Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Prejudice
Black-letter record of the ages.
—Denis Diderot
I like better for one to say some foolish thing upon important matters than to be silent. That becomes the subject of discussion and dispute, and the truth is discovered.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Silence
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.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Genius
Doctors are always working to preserve our health and cooks to destroy it, but the latter are the more often successful.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Health
It is the man who is cool and collected, who is master of his countenance, his voice, his actions, his gestures, of every part, who can work upon others at his pleasure.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Self-Control
The possibility of divorce renders both marriage partners stricter in their observance of the duties they owe to each other. Divorces help to improve morals and to increase the population.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Divorce
The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them on occasion.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Fanaticism, Religion
Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Government
Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Justice, Leadership, Leaders
The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Philosophy, Philosophers, Science
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.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Revolution, Revolutions, Revolutionaries
In order to shake a hypothesis, it is sometimes not necessary to do anything more than push it as far as it will go.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Assumptions, Theory
Every man has his dignity. I’m willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Dignity
It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Desire, Desires
Do you see this egg? With this you can topple every theological theory, every church or temple in the world.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Science, Scientists
Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Order
Virtue is praised, but hated. People run from it, for it is ice-cold and in this world you have to keep your feet warm.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Virtue
Impenetrable in their dissimulation, cruel in their vengeance, tenacious in their purposes, unscrupulous as to their methods, animated by profound and hidden hatred for the tyranny of man—it is as though there exists among them an ever-present conspiracy toward domination, a sort of alliance like that subsisting among the priests of every country.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Women
Instinct guides the animal better than the man. In the animal it is pure, in man it is led astray by his reason and intelligence.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Instincts, Reason
Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Passion, Romance, Enthusiasm
Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Patriotism
When we know how to read our own hearts, we acquire wisdom of the hearts of others.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Wisdom
The following general definition of an animal: a system of different organic molecules that have combined with one another, under the impulsion of a sensation similar to an obtuse and muffled sense of touch given to them by the creator of matter as a whole, until each one of them has found the most suitable position for its shape and comfort.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Animals
People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you’ve got to keep your feet warm.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Virtues, Virtue
Gaiety—a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Disorder, Happiness
Distance is a great promoter of admiration!.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Admiration
There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Women, Men & Women, Men and Women, Men
There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Passion
I have often seen an actor laugh off the stage, but I don’t remember ever having seen one weep.
—Denis Diderot
Topics: Actors, Acting
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Voltaire French Philosopher, Author
- Georges Bataille French Essayist, Intellectual
- Marquis de Sade French Writer
- Albert Camus Algerian-born French Philosopher
- Jean-Paul Sartre French Philosopher
- Simone de Beauvoir French Philosopher
- Roland Barthes French Literary Theorist
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau French Philosopher
- Michel de Montaigne French Essayist
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin French Jesuit Scientist
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