It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it. — Denis Diderot
It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire. — Denis Diderot
It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all. — Denis Diderot
Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey. — Denis Diderot
Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. — Denis Diderot
We rarely see these three means combined; and for this reason, creative geniuses are not common. — Denis Diderot
Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it. — Denis Diderot
The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form a counter authority to the law. — Denis Diderot
The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action. — Denis Diderot
The God of the christians is a father who makes much of his apples, and very little of his children. — Denis Diderot
The infant runs toward it with its eyes closed, the adult is stationary, the old man approaches it with his back turned. — Denis Diderot
The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. — Denis Diderot
The pit of a theatre is the one place where the tears of virtuous and wicked men alike are mingled. — Denis Diderot
Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination. — Denis Diderot
There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies. — Denis Diderot
We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. — Denis Diderot
Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless — Denis Diderot
When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human temperamentit — Denis Diderot