The forceps of our minds are clumsy things 

and crush the truth a little 

in the course of taking hold of it.

The improver of natural science 

absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. 

For him, scepticism is the highest of duties: 

blind faith the one unpardonable sin.

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, 

and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.

The sun, 

with all those planets revolving around it 

and dependent on it, 

can still ripen a bunch of grapes 

as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.

What is the first business of philosophy?
 To part with self-conceit.
 For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn
what he thinks that he already knows.

Observations always involve theory.

The point of philosophy 

is to start with something so simple 

as not to seem worth stating, 

and to end with something so paradoxical 

that no one will believe it.

Men love to wonder, 

and that is the seed of science.

Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum 

quia dolor sit amet, 

consectetur, 

adipisci velit. 

There is no one who loves pain itself, 

who seeks after it and wants to have it, 

simply because it is pain.

Virtue is nothing else than right reason.

Happiness is the highest good.

If you would be a real seeker after truth, 

it is necessary that at least once in your life 

you doubt, as far as possible, all things.

It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, 

and another to put him in possession of truth.

Happiness lies in virtuous activity, 

and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, 

which is contemplative.

Everything that exists 

is born for no reason, 

carries on living through weakness, 

and dies by accident.