Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle Quotes

Leibniz never married; he had considered it at the age of fifty, but the person he had in mind desired time to think about it. This gave Leibniz time to reflect, also, and he didn’t marry.

The greatest obstacle to happiness is the expectation of too great a happiness.

True philosophers are like elephants, who when walking never place their second foot on the ground until the first is steady.

The most natural and ordinary movements are those which are the least felt; this is also true in morals. Pride is so natural to us that, most often, we never feel it.

I have come to esteem the universe more now that I know it resembles a watch; it is surprising that the order of nature, as admirable as it is, only runs on such simple things.

Oh! If man were robbed of his fantasies, what pleasure would be left him?