Home / Authors / Denis Diderot

Denis Diderot Quotes

Philosopher

Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer who played a pivotal role in the Enlightenment. He is best known for his work on the Encyclopédie, which aimed to compile all the knowledge of the time into a single work.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men Literature Ifs Atheism Positive Atheism Firsts Religion Order People Doe Giving Philosophy Reason Virtue World Steps Genius May Passion Should

Famous Denis Diderot Quotes

“People stop thinking when they cease to read.”

People Thinking Reading

Author:Denis Diderot

“It seems to me that if one had kept silence up to now regarding religion, people would still be submerged in the most grotesque and dangerous superstition ... regarding government, we would still be groaning under the bonds of feudal government ... regarding morals, we would still be having to learn what is virtue and what is vice. To forbid all these discussions, the only ones worthy of occupying a good mind, is to perpetuate the reign of ignorance and barbarism.”

“The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is to the state what health is to the individual.”

People Ends States Reason Government Law Purpose Individual Liberty Atheism Positive Atheism Governors Laws Of Nature Purpose Of Government

Author:Denis Diderot

“We are a free people; and now you have planted in our country the title deeds of our future slavery. You are neither god nor demon; who are you, then, to make slaves? Orou! You understand the language of these men, tell us all, as you have told me, what they have written on this sheet of metal: This country is ours. This country yours? And why? Because you have walked thereon? If a Tahitian landed one day on your shores, and scratched on one of your rocks or on the bark of your trees: This country belongs to the people of Tahiti - what would you think?”

People Ifs Thinking Men Country Language Written Tree Atheism Rocks One Day Slavery Slave Deeds Positive Atheism Our Country Titles Demon Shore Our Future Metals Sheets Bark Tahiti

Author:Denis Diderot

“A nation which thinks that it is belief in God and not good law which makes people honest does not seem to me very advanced.”

People Thinking Doe Seems Law Belief Nations Honest Belief In God

Author:Denis Diderot

“Happiest are the people who give most happiness to others.”

People Giving Philanthropy

Author:Denis Diderot

“The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them on occasion.”

People Knows Use Religion Know How Atheism Dangerous Aim Occasions Fanatics Fanaticism Madmen

Author:Denis Diderot

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

People War Nations Sovereign Legislators

Book:Diderot: Political Writings

Source: Diderot: Political Writings

“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.”

People May Matter Form Virtue Dangerous Stupid Habit Wicked Enlightened Serving Seduction Arbitrary Successors Lulls

Book:Selected Writings

Source: Selected Writings

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

People Mean Religion Order Watches Power Management Fellows Tyranny Organized

Author:Denis Diderot

“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.”

People World Running Death Hate Literature Virtue Feet This World Praise Warm Running Away Freeze Hate People

Book:Selected Writings

Source: Selected Writings

“The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.”

People Lovers Sexuality Absurd Homosexuality Well Mannered

Author:Denis Diderot