Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and our experiments exact. We rarely see these three means combined; and for this reason, creative geniuses are not common.

Quote by Denis Diderot

Topics: Denis Diderot Quotes

It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.

It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.

Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.

Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.

We are all instruments endowed with feeling and memory. Our senses are so many strings...

We are all instruments endowed with feeling and memory. Our senses are so many strings...

No man has received from nature the right to command his fellow human beings.

No man has received from nature the right to command his fellow human beings.

There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge. . . observation of nature, reflection, and...

There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge. . . observation of nature, reflection, and...

Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths...

Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths...

The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.

The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.

The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form...

The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form...

Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the...

Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the...

If you want me to believe in God, you must make me touch him.

If you want me to believe in God, you must make me touch him.

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

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

The blood of Jesus Christ can cover a multitude of sins, it seems to me.

The blood of Jesus Christ can cover a multitude of sins, it seems to me.

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully; and is good, self-possessed,...

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully; and is good, self-possessed,...

All abstract sciences are nothing but the study of relations between signs.

All abstract sciences are nothing but the study of relations between signs.

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that...

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that...

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those...

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those...

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little...

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little...

Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in...

Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in...

The pit of a theatre is the one place where the tears of virtuous and...

The pit of a theatre is the one place where the tears of virtuous and...

We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.

We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.