Pierre Bayle
Pierre Bayle
Pierre Bayle was a French philosopher and writer best known for his seminal work the Historical and Critical Dictionary, published beginning in 1697...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth18 November 1647
CountryFrance
applying author finds french-philosopher less nor rightly
There is not less wit nor less invention in applying rightly a thought one finds in a book, than in being the first author of that thought.
century entirely french-philosopher generation passes
It is pure illusion to think that an opinion that passes down from century to century, from generation to generation, may not be entirely false.
littles too-much knows
I know too much to be a sceptic and too little to be a dogmatist.
deceiving citations prudence
I mention this only to shew that the citations of the most judicious authors frequently deceive us, and consequently that prudence obliges us to examine quotations, by whomsoever alleged.
two giving atheism
I get up and retire when I wish. I go out if I wish and I do not go out if I do not desire to do so, except for the two days on which I give lectures.
believe mad atheism
One must be stark mad, to believe that mankind can subsist without magistrates.
affliction stamps impression
The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of God's own stamp.
religious evil christianity
No nations are more warlike than those which profess Christianity.
stars lying miscarriage
Consider, I pray, whether you are not renouncing all shame and sincerity to advance such principles. Because a comet appears in a group of stars which the ancients thought fit to call the Virgin, therefore, shall our women be barren, or have frequent miscarriages, or die old maids. I know of nothing which hangs so ill together! To offer such things in seriousness, shows the greatest contempt of mankind, and the most scandalous lying impunity.
soul done said
I am a good Protestant, and in the full sense of the term, for from the bottom of my soul, I protest against everything that is said, and everything that is done.
believe atheism prejudice
It is only common prejudice that induces us to believe that atheism is a fearful state.
book firsts talent
There is not less wit nor invention in applying rightly a thought one finds in a book, than in being the first author of that thought. Cardinal du Perron has been heard to say that the happy application of a verse of Virgil has deserved a talent.
atheism advancement wells
I lay down the Position, That whatever a Conscience well directed allows us to do for the Advancement of Truth, an erroneous Conscience will warrant for advancing a suppos'd Truth.
men wrath offering
So that, were it the purpose of God to produce comets as signs of his wrath it would be true to say that he is quickening a false devotion almost all over the world, increasing the number of pilgrims to Mecca, multiplying the offerings to the most famous impostors, inducing men to build mosques for Mohammedan worship, causing the invention of new superstitions among the dervishes - in a word, stimulating many abominable things which otherwise might not have been.