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

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.

When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human...

When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human...

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

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

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.

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...

There are things I can't force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest...

There are things I can't force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest...

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...

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

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...

The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.

The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.

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...

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...

My ideas are my whores.

My ideas are my whores.

People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you...

People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you...

The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius...

The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius...

One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man's suffering to them. One...

One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man's suffering to them. One...

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.

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.

The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.

The fan is the one who suffers. He cheers a guy to a .350 season...

The fan is the one who suffers. He cheers a guy to a .350 season...