When We Know To Read Our Own

First Move Me, Astonish Me, Break My Heart, Let Me Tremble, Weep, Stare, Be Enraged-only Then Regale My Eyes.

It Seems To Me That If One Had Kept Silence Up To Now Regarding Religion, People Would Still Be Submerged In The Most Grotesque And Dangerous Superstition ... Regarding Government, We Would Still Be Groaning Under The Bonds Of Feudal Government ... Regarding Morals, We Would Still Be Having To Learn What Is Virtue And What Is Vice. To Forbid All These Discussions, The Only Ones Worthy Of Occupying A Good Mind, Is To Perpetuate The Reign Of Ignorance And Barbarism.

It Is Very Important Not To Mistake Hemlock For Parsley, But To Believe Or Not Believe In God Is Not Important At All.

If Exclusive Privileges Were Not Granted, And If The Financial System Would Not Tend To Concentrate Wealth, There Would Be Few Great Fortunes And No Quick Wealth. When The Means Of Growing Rich Is Divided Between A Greater Number Of Citizens, Wealth Will Also Be More Evenly Distributed; Extreme Poverty And Extreme Wealth Would Be Also Rare.

There Is Only One Virtue, Justice; Only One Duty, To Be Happy; Only One Corollary, Not To Overvalue Life And Not To Fear Death.