“Conscience is the virtue of observers and not of agents of action.”

“A man's shortcomings are taken from his epoch; his virtues and greatness belong to himself.”

“Doubt can only be removed by action.”

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.”

“Error is related to truth as sleeping is to waking. I have observed that when one has been in error, one turns to truth as though revitalized.”

“Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myself, and my own heart is in such constant agitation, that I am well content to let others pursue their own course, if they only allow me the same privilege.”

“All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.”