“There is in every village a torch - the teacher; and an extinguisher - the priest.”

“Every skull-cap may dream of the tiara. The priest is nowadays the only man who can become a king in a regular manner; and what a king! the supreme king.”

“Is there not in every human soul a primitive spark, a divine element, incorruptible in this world and immortal in the next, which can be developed by goodness, kindled, lit up, and made to radiate, and which evil can never entirely extinguish.”

“A torch-flame resembles the wisdom of cowards: it gives a poor light because it trembles.”

“An opulent priest is a contradiction.”

“by making himself a priest made himself a demon.”

“The first proof of charity in a priest, especially a bishop, is poverty.”