Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderotʁo]; 5 October 1713 – 31 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert...
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth5 October 1713
wise years forever
You live as if you were destined to live forever, no thought of your frailty ever enters your head, of how much time has already gone by you take no heed. You squander time as if you drew from a full and abundant supply, so all the while that day which you bestow on some person or thing is perhaps your last. You have all the fears of mortals and all the desires of immortals… What foolish forgetfulness of mortality to defer wise resolutions to the fiftieth or sixtieth year, and to intend to begin life at a point to which few have attained.
forever trying facts
Those who fear the facts will forever try to discredit the fact-finders.
race forever atheism
Which is the greater merit, to enlighten the human race, which remains forever, or to save one's fatherland, which is perishable?
people lovers sexuality
The best mannered people make the most absurd lovers.
duty speak
To do his duty somehow, always to speak well of the Prior, and let the world go its own way.
force quotes sentences sharp truth
Sentences are like sharp nails, which force truth upon our memories.
beautiful stupid crazy
The wisest among us is very lucky never to have met the woman, be she beautiful or ugly, intelligent or stupid, who could drive him crazy enough to be fit to be put into an asylum.
running law long
The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form a counter authority to the law.
witty character giving
Il ne faut point donner d'esprit a' ses personnages; mais savoir les placer dans des circonstances qui leur en donnent. You should not give wit to your characters, but know instead how to put them in situations which will make them witty.
truth looks expected
I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it.
inspirational literature doe
There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.
ignorance prejudice
Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.
character criticism deceit
If a misplaced admiration shows imbecility, an affected criticism shows vice of character. Expose thyself rather to appear a beast than false.
cat
There are cats and cats.