Denis Diderot

The world is the house of the strong.

— Denis Diderot

Une danse est un poe' me. A dance is a poem.

— Denis Diderot

There is only one duty; that is to be happy.

— Denis Diderot

There are cats and cats.

— Denis Diderot

You have to make it happen.

— Denis Diderot

All children are essentially criminal.

— Denis Diderot

Scepticism is the first step towards truth.

— Denis Diderot

How easy it is to tell tales!

— Denis Diderot

Passions destroy more prejudices than philosophy does.

— Denis Diderot

“Se me debe exigir que busque la verdad, pero no que la encuentre.”

— Denis Diderot

He whom we call a gentleman is no longer the man of Nature.

— Denis Diderot

Integrity is the evidence of all civil virtues.

— Denis Diderot

You risk just as much in being credulous as in being suspicious.

— Denis Diderot

Gratitude is a burden, and every burden is made to be shaken off.

— Denis Diderot

Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.

— Denis Diderot

Two qualities essential for the artist: moralityand perspective.

— Denis Diderot

There are things I can't force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest change needed is a change of my…

— Denis Diderot

The enjoyment of freedom which could be exercised without any motivation would be the real hallmark of a maniac.

— Denis Diderot

I feel, I think, I judge; therefore, a part of organized matter like me is capable of feeling, thinking, and judging.

— Denis Diderot

When one compares the talents one has with those of a Leibniz , one is tempted to throw away one's books and…

— Denis Diderot

Oh! how near are genius and madness! Men imprison them and chain them, or raise statues to them.

— Denis Diderot

The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action.

— Denis Diderot

We are all instruments endowed with feeling and memory. Our senses are so many strings that are struck by surrounding objects and…

— Denis Diderot

If a misplaced admiration shows imbecility, an affected criticism shows vice of character. Expose thyself rather to appear a beast than false.

— Denis Diderot

Man was born to live with his fellow human beings. Separate him, isolate him, his character will go bad, a thousand ridiculous…

— Denis Diderot

The following general definition of an animal: a system of different organic molecules that have combined with one another, under the impulsion…

— Denis Diderot

The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors…

— Denis Diderot

In any country where talent and virtue produce no advancement, money will be the national god. Its inhabitants will either have to…

— Denis Diderot

Tous les jours on couche avec des femmes qu'on n'aime pas, et l'on ne couche pas avec des femmes qu'on aime. Every…

— Denis Diderot

“[L]e philosophe n'a jamais tué de prêtres et le prêtre a tué beaucoup de philosophes... (The philosopher has never killed any priests,…

— Denis Diderot

If reason be a gift of Heaven, and we can say as much of faith, Heaven has certainly made us two gifts…

— Denis Diderot

Il ne faut point donner d'esprit a' ses personnages; mais savoir les placer dans des circonstances qui leur en donnent. You should…

— Denis Diderot

We are a free people; and now you have planted in our country the title deeds of our future slavery. You are…

— Denis Diderot

“As I listened to him describing the scene of the procurer seducing the young girl, I found myself torn between two conflicting…

— Denis Diderot

As long as the centuries continue to unfold, the number of books will grow continually, and one can predict that a time…

— Denis Diderot

L'homme est ne pour la socie te ; se parez-le, isolez-le, ses ide es se de suniront, son caracte' re se tournera,…

— Denis Diderot

In any country where talent and virtue produce no advancement, money will be the national god. Its inhabitants will either have to…

— Denis Diderot

What is this world? A complex whole, subject to endless revolutions. All these revolutions show a continual tendency to destruction; a swift…

— Denis Diderot

There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy falls into melancholy; they are tormented by a vague inquietude which…

— Denis Diderot

To be born in imbecility, in the midst of pain and crisis; to be the plaything of ignorance, error, need, sickness, wickedness,…

— Denis Diderot