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.
Interpretation
This quote warns against the dangers of using religion as a cover for ulterior motives in society.
Denis Diderot's quote highlights the peril that arises when individuals or groups exploit religion to disguise their true intentions. It suggests that such disturbances can lead to greater chaos and fear in society, as the genuine motivations become obscured behind a veil that is traditionally respected and revered. In essence, it critiques the manipulation of religious sentiments for personal or political gain, indicating that this tactic can lead to severe societal consequences.
In practice
In a speech about the role of religion in modern politics, one might start with this quote to emphasize the need for transparency.
The arbitrary rule of a just and enlightened prince is always bad. His virtues are the most dangerous and the surest form of seduction: they lull a people imperceptibly into the habit of loving, respecting, and serving his successor, whoever that successor may be, no matter how wicked or stupid.
This root [the potato], no matter how much you prepare it, is tasteless and floury. It cannot pass for an agreeable food, but it supplies a food sufficiently abundant and sufficiently healthy for men who ask only to sustain themselves. The potato is criticized with reason for being windy, but what matters windiness for the vigorous organisms of peasants and laborers?
Do you see this egg? With this you can topple every theological theory, every church or temple in the world.
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.
In order to get as much fame as one's father one has to much more able than he.
All abstract sciences are nothing but the study of relations between signs.
But I didn't know what to say to him. What do you say to a man that by his own admission has no soul? Why would you say anything?
Before I die many will die with me and they'll deserve it. See you in Hell.
They who do not understand that a man may be brought to hope that which of all things is the most grievous to him, have not observed with sufficient closeness the perversity of the human mind.
You are not going to destroy this imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy by creating your own version of it.
I think television has betrayed the meaning of democratic speech, adding visual chaos to the confusion of voices. What role does silence have in all this noise?
Much as we deplore our condition in life, nothing would make us more satisfied with it than the changing of places, for a few days, with our neighbors.
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