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
men literature may
There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies.
knowledge mean reflection
There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge... observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination.
spiritual atheist science
The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
loss religion prejudice
Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.
god religious mistake
It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all.
people lovers sexuality
The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.
heart acquire knows
When we know to read our own hearts, we acquire wisdom of the heartsof others.
inspirational vices virtue
We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.
lying flattery bitter
We swallow with one gulp the lie that flatters us, and drink drop by drop the truth which is bitter to us.
birthday goodbye farewell
When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human temperament, we can say goodbye to all excellence in poetry, in painting, and in music.
book learning numbers
As long as the centuries continue to unfold, the number of books will grow continually, and one can predict that a time will come when it will be almost as difficult to learn anything from books as from the direct study of the whole universe. It will be almost as convenient to search for some bit of truth concealed in nature as it will be to find it hidden away in an immense multitude of bound volumes.
men age genius
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.
men literature dignity
Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.
giving inspire excellent
The bad gives rise to the good, the good inspires the better, the better produces the excellent, the excellent is followed by the bizarre