“So it is the human condition that to wish for the greatness of one's fatherland is to wish evil to one's neighbors. The citizen of the universe would be the man who wishes his country never to be either greater or smaller, richer or poorer.”

“Such then is the human condition, that to wish greatness for one's country is to wish harm to one's neighbors.”

“Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.”

“In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.”

“But in this country it is necessary, now and then, to put one admiral to death in order to inspire the others to fight.”

“Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good sense, if that good sense contributes to our misery.” Everyone agreed with me, and yet I found no one who wanted to accept the bargain of becoming ignorant in order to become content. From this I concluded that though we greatly value happiness, we place even greater value on reason.But yet, upon reflection, it seems that to prefer reason to happiness is to be quite insane.”

“Why should you think it so strange that in some countries there are monkeys which insinuates themselves into the good graces of the ladies; they are a fourth part human, as I am a fourth part Spaniard.”