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.

Quote by Denis Diderot

Topics: Denis Diderot Quotes

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...

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the...

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the...

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of...

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of...

His hands would plait the priest's guts, if he had no rope, to strangle kings.

His hands would plait the priest's guts, if he had no rope, to strangle kings.

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

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

You have to make it happen.

You have to make it happen.

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...

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,...

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy

The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.

The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.

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...

It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not...

It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not...

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...

Good music is very close to primitive language.

Good music is very close to primitive language.

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 only one passion, the passion for happiness.

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.

My ideas are my whores.

My ideas are my whores.

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...

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.

Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and our experiments exact. We...

Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and our experiments exact. We...