The arrogance and the emptiness of their writings, their impertinent pride and their unwarranted blunders, have disgusted me.

Whoever, knowing them, pardons them, may read them.
"I have severely blamed the learned Christian Church: it was my duty.
This blame results from the facts which I call attention to: why has the Church decreed concerning things which it does not understand?
The Church has erred in dogma and in morals; physics and mathematics testify against her.

It may be wrong for me to say it, but surely it is unfortunate for Christianity that it is true.

To restore religion, gentlemen, it is necessary to condemn the Church.
"Perhaps you will regret, gentlemen, that, in giving all my attention to method and evidence, I have too much neglected form and style: in vain should I have tried to do better.

Literary hope and faith I have none.
The nineteenth century is, in my eyes, a genesic era, in which new principles are elaborated, but in which nothing that is written shall endure.