Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderotʁo]; 5 October 1713 – 31 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert...
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth5 October 1713
law authority break
Anyone who takes it upon himself, on his private authority, to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.
men missing ungrateful
Isn't it better to have men being ungrateful than to miss a chance to do good?
men giving shame
Give, but, if possible, spare the poor man the shame of begging.
children men entertainment
In general, children, like men, and men, like children, prefer entertainment to education.
art moving eye
First move me, astonish me, break my heart, let me tremble, weep, stare, be enraged-only then regale my eyes.
wall views religion
Mankind have banned the Divinity from their presence; they have relegated him to a sanctuary; the walls of the temple restrict his view; he does not exist outside of it.
evil genius world
Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.
mother father ignorance
If your little savage were left to himself and be allowed to retain all his ignorance, he would in time join the infant's reasoning to the grown man's passion, he would strangle his father and sleep with his mother.
art creativity passion
Only passions, and great passions, can raise the soul to great things. Without them there is no sublimity, either in morals or in creativity. Art returns to infancy, and virtue becomes small- minded.
blow order way
My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.
play would-be world
What a fine comedy this world would be if one did not play a part in it.
learning games skills
If the weather is too cold or rainy, I take shelter in the Regence Cafe, where I entertain myself by watching chess being played. Paris is the world center, and this cafe is the Paris centre for the finest skill at this game.
ignorance prejudice
Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.
truth looks expected
I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it.