“The Crusades – the most signal and most durable monument of human folly that has yet appeared in any age or nation.”

All knowledge degenerates into probability.

no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavors to establish.

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.

Men’s views of things are the result of their understanding alone. Their conduct is regulated by their understanding, their temper, and their passions.

There is nothing to be learnt from a Professor, which is not to be met with in Books.

It is, therefore, a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.

It is, therefore, a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.

Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.

But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.

To be a philosophical Sceptic is the first and most essential step towards being a sound, believing Christian.

The truth springs from arguments amongst friends.

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.

Any pride or haughtiness, is displeasing to us, merely because it shocks our own pride, and leads us by sympathy into comparison, which causes the disagreeable passion of humility.

How can we satisfy ourselves without going on in infinitum? And, after all, what satisfaction is there in that infinite progression?

What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call ‘thought’

It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause

Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.

Youth has no age.

Thirty is a very good age for an actor: you can play both young and old men.

It’s nice to have a lot of money, but you know, you don’t want to keep it around forever. I prefer buying things. Otherwise, it’s a little like saving sex for your old age.

There are three things that grow more precious with age; old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy.

I don’t know what the big deal is about old age. Old people who shine from the inside look 10 to 20 years younger.

I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.