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Denis Diderot Quotes


All abstract sciences are nothing but the study of relations between signs.

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully; and is good, self-possessed, has faith and is pure; and if he does not hurt any living being, he is a holy man.

Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.

Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.

Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

Gaiety is a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.

Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth.

Good music is very close to primitive language.

Gratitude is a burden, and every burden is made to be shaken off.

His hands would plait the priest's guts, if he had no rope, to strangle kings.

If there is one realm in which it is essential to be sublime, it is in wickedness. You spit on a petty thief, but you can't deny a kind of respect for the great criminal.

If you want me to believe in God, you must make me touch him.

In order to shake a hypothesis, it is sometimes not necessary to do anything more than push it as far as it will go.

It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.

It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire.

It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all.

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.