“Il n'est pas de chagrin qu'un livre ne puisse consoler.”

“There is no desire more natural than the desire of knowledge. (Il n'est desir plus naturel que le desir de connaissance)”

“La foiblesse de nostre condition, fait que les choses en leur simplicité et pureté naturelle ne puissent pas tomber en nostre usage...Nostre extreme volupté a quelque air de gemissement, et de plainte.”

“El amor no es más que el deseo furioso de algo que huye de nosotros...”

“Não há nada tão belo e legítimo quanto ser um homem de forma boa e adequada, nem conhecimento tão difícil de adquirir quanto o conhecimento de como viver esta vida bem e com naturalidade; e a mais bárbara de nossas doenças é desprezar o nosso ser.”

“Combien de choses nous servoyent hier d’articles de foy, qui nous sont fables aujourd’huy?How many things served us yesterday for articles of faith, which today are fables for us?”

“Would I fortify myself against the fear of death, it must be at the expense of Seneca: would I extract consolation for myself or my friend, I must borrow it from Cicero.  I might have found it in myself, had I been trained to make use of my own reason.  I do not like this relative and mendicant understanding; for though we could become learned by other men's learning, a man can never be wise but by his own wisdom.”