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
children men entertainment
In general, children, like men, and men, like children, prefer entertainment to education.
god religious men
The man who first pronounced the barbarous word God ought to have been immediately destroyed.
children criminals
All children are essentially criminal.
silence important matter
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.
inspirational happiness romantic
Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.
running art giving
All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings... We must run roughshod over all these ancient puerilities, overturn the barriers that reason never erected, give back to the arts and sciences the liberty that is so precious to them.
force quotes sentences sharp truth
Sentences are like sharp nails, which force truth upon our memories.
earth schools temples theology
See this egg. It is with this that all the schools of theology and all the temples of the earth are to be overturned.
capable claims conclusion draw matter order organized prefer takes therefore wants
Descartes said: "I think, therefore I am." Helvetius wants to say: "I feel, therefore I want to feel pleasantly." I prefer Hobbes who claims that in order to draw a conclusion which takes us somewhere, we must say, "I feel, I think, I judge; therefore, a part of organized matter like me is capable of feeling, thinking, and judging.
art business chief close move touch
it is the chief business of art to touch and to move and to do this by getting close to 'nature.'
best doctor run
The best doctor is the one you run for and can't find
generally sketch spirited
A sketch is generally more spirited than a picture,
although faith fine holy hurt lives living man wear
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.