Denis Diderot

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.

There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.

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

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.

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.

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.

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

Distance is a great promoter of admiration.

Wandering in a vast forest at night, I have only a faint light to guide me. A stranger appears and says to me: 'My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.' This stranger is a theologian.

Oh! how near are genius and madness! Men imprison them and chain them, or raise statues to them.

Man was born to live with his fellow human beings. Separate him, isolate him, his character will go bad, a thousand ridiculous affects will invade his heart, extravagant thoughts will germinate in his brain, like thorns in an uncultivated land.

Scepticism is the first step towards truth.

The world is the house of the strong.

I picture the vast realm of the sciences as an immense landscape scattered with patches of dark and light. The goal towards which we must work is either to extend the boundaries of the patches of light, or to increase their number. One of these tasks falls to the creative genius; the other requires a sort of sagacity combined with perfectionism.

Posterity for the philosopher is what the other world is for the religious man.

There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.

It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire.

There is no true sovereign except the nation; there can be no true legislator except the people.

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

Superstition is more injurious to God than atheism.