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

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.
Denis Diderot

There are things I can't force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest change needed is a change of my viewpoint.
Denis Diderot

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.
Denis Diderot

There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.
Denis Diderot

There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies.
Denis Diderot

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

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.
Denis Diderot

To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!
Denis Diderot

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

We are all instruments endowed with feeling and memory. Our senses are so many strings that are struck by surrounding objects and that also frequently strike themselves.
Denis Diderot

We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.
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

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.
Denis Diderot

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.
Denis Diderot

You have to make it happen.
Denis Diderot