“It is necessary to believe that the mixture of evil has produced the greatest possible good: otherwise the evil would not have been permitted.”

We never have a full demonstration, although there is always an underlying reason for the truth, even if it is only perfectly understood by God, who alone penetrated the infinite series in one stroke of the mind.

The present is big with the future, the future might be read in the past, the distant is expressed in the near.

Nothing is more important than to see the sources of invention which are, in my opinion more interesting than the inventions themselves.

In my judgment an organic machine new to nature never arises, since it always contains an infinity of organs so that it can express, in its own way, the whole universe; indeed, it always contains all past and present times.

But it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths which distinguishes us from mere animals, and gives us reason and the sciences, raising us to knowledge of ourselves and God. It is this in us which we call the rational soul or mind.

A great doctor kills more people than a great general.

The most perfect society is that whose purpose is the universal and supreme happiness.

Philosophy consists mostly of kicking up a lot of dust and then complaining that you can’t see anything.

Imaginary numbers are a fine and wonderful refuge of the divine spirit almost an amphibian between being and non-being.

Why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever?

He who hasn’t tasted bitter things hasn’t earned sweet things.

We live in the best of all possible worlds.

All things in God are spontaneous.

Every present state of a simple substance is the natural consequence of its preceding state, in such a way that its present is big with its future.

Music is a hidden arithmetic exercise of the soul, which does not know that it is counting.

Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting.

Like so many brilliant people, he believes that ideas move mountains. But bulldozers move mountains; ideas show where the bulldozers should go to work.

What you believe is more important than what you possess. What you live is more lasting than what you profess. Whom you inspire is more significant than whom you impress.

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.

I do believe in love. I don’t believe you find it at 16 but I think I believe in it.

I’ve always believed that a person is smart. It’s people that are stupid.

If you really think about it, if we begin to teach history exactly the way that it happened – good, bad, ugly, no matter what – I believe that we’re going to find that we are closer, more connected than we are apart.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.

Everything possible to be believed is an image of truth.