To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he…

Quote by Denis Diderot

Topics: Denis Diderot Quotes

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...

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.

My ideas are my whores.

My ideas are my whores.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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.

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.

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...

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...

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy

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

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

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

The best doctor is the one you run to and can't find.

The best doctor is the one you run to and can't find.

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

It is good to express a thing twice right at the outset and so to...

It is good to express a thing twice right at the outset and so to...

The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the...

The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the...