"I cannot bring myself to fear a God who is either spiteful or weak. I defy him without fear and care not a fig for his thunderbolts."

"I am a man of my century, and I write for my century."

"Nature has granted me a temperament that is too ardent, a soul too impetuous, a character too strong, for me to be able to submit to the yoke of any laws."

"My principles are not those of the world, but they are those of nature."

"My only regret is that I was born into a world of cowards, who tremble at the sight of truth."