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

Quote by Denis Diderot

Topics: Philosophy Quotes

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,...

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.

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...

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...

To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble...

To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble...

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...

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many...

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many...

Pithy sentences are like sharp nails which force truth upon our memory.

Pithy sentences are like sharp nails which force truth upon our memory.

Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed...

Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed...

Poetry must have something in it that is barbaric, vast and wild.

Poetry must have something in it that is barbaric, vast and wild.

Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.

Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.

Gaiety is a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.

Gaiety is a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.

There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman...

There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman...

There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.

There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.

I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it

I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it

In order to shake a hypothesis, it is sometimes not necessary to do anything more...

In order to shake a hypothesis, it is sometimes not necessary to do anything more...

There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.

There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.

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

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

It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is...

It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is...

Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion...

Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion...