When science, art, literature, and philosophy are simply the manifestation of personality they are on a level where glorious and dazzling achievements are possible, which can make a man's name live for thousands of years.

Quote by Denis Diderot

Topics: Denis Diderot Quotes

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...

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...

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...

Women swallow at one mouthful the lie that flatters, and drink drop by drop the...

Women swallow at one mouthful the lie that flatters, and drink drop by drop the...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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...

If there is one realm in which it is essential to be sublime, it is...

If there is one realm in which it is essential to be sublime, it is...

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...