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
mean numbers would-be
If exclusive privileges were not granted, and if the financial system would not tend to concentrate wealth, there would be few great fortunes and no quick wealth. When the means of growing rich is divided between a greater number of citizens, wealth will also be more evenly distributed; extreme poverty and extreme wealth would be also rare.
rich figures composition
One composition is meagre, though it has many figures; another is rich, though it has few.
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.
love life giving
It has been said that love robs those who have it of their wit, and gives it to those who have none.
people religion use
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.
christian holy-prophet religion
There is not a Musselman[Muslim] alive who would not imagine that he was performing an action pleasing to God and his Holy Prophet by exterminating every Christian on earth, while the Christians are scarcely more tolerant on their side.
philosophy science firsts
The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.
atheism superstitions
Superstition is more injurious to God than atheism.
evil genius world
Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.
freedom men order
No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason.
father order able
In order to get as much fame as one's father one has to much more able than he.
mad psychological harm
There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.
religious philosophy men
Posterity for the philosopher is what the other world is for the religious man.