“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.”
Art
“We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.”
TruthAll Quotes by Denis Diderot
“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.”
Faith“Pithy sentences are like sharp nails which force truth upon our memory.”
Truth“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.”
Power“Morals are in all countries the result of legislation and government they are not African or Asian or European: they are good or bad.”
Government“We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.”
Truth“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.”
Nature“When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human temperament, we can say goodbye to all excellence in poetry, in painting, and in music.”
Age“Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.”
Patriotism“Poetry must have something in it that is barbaric, vast and wild.”
Poetry“No man has received from nature the right to command his fellow human beings.”
Nature“It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.”
Nature“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.”
Knowledge“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.”
Respect“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.”
Marriage“The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action.”
Freedom“Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth.”
Age“Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.”
Great“The best doctor is the one you run to and can't find.”
Best“People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm.”
Death