Denis Diderot

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

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.

If there is one realm in which it is essential to be sublime, it is in wickedness. You spit on a petty thief, but you can't deny a kind of respect for the great criminal.

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.

Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the force of him who commands prevails over that of those who obey.

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

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

Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and our experiments exact. We rarely see these three means combined and for this reason, creative geniuses are not common.

It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.

No man has received from nature the right to command his fellow human beings.

Good music is very close to primitive language.

The possibility of divorce renders both marriage partners stricter in their observance of the duties they owe to each other. Divorces help to improve morals and to increase the population.

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.

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.

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

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

Morals are in all countries the result of legislation and government they are not African or Asian or European: they are good or bad.

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

The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action.

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully and is good, self-possessed, has faith and is pure and if he does not hurt any living being, he is a holy man.