Pierre Bayle Quotes
Pierre Bayle was a French Huguenot philosopher and encyclopedist who lived in exile in Rotterdam after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. His Historical and Critical Dictionary, organized as a network of biographies with copious skeptical footnotes, became one of the most widely read and influential books of the late seventeenth century and a principal source for the philosophes of the next generation. The quotes below are attributed to Pierre Bayle, organized by topic.
Pierre Bayle on Freedom
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Attributed to Pierre Bayle:
“Toleration is the only path to peace among men of different convictions.”
Pierre Bayle on Knowledge
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Attributed to Pierre Bayle:
“Doubt about everything that is not self-evident is the beginning of philosophy.”
Pierre Bayle on Truth
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Attributed to Pierre Bayle:
“We are too partial to ourselves to be the judges of our own causes.”
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Attributed to Pierre Bayle:
“The most general infirmity of mankind is its credulity.”
Pierre Bayle on Virtue
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Attributed to Pierre Bayle:
“A society of atheists could practice morality as well as a society of religious men.”