Quotes from Denis Diderot

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

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.

The Christian religion teaches us to imitate a God that is cruel, insidious, jealous, and implacable in his wrath.

Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.

Philosophy is as far separated from impiety as religion is from fanaticism.

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.

The blood of Jesus Christ can cover a multitude of sins, it seems to me.

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.

Distance is a great promoter of admiration!.

The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form a counter authority to the law.

Gaiety is a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.

The pit of a theatre is the one place where the tears of virtuous and wicked men alike are mingled.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all.

Doctors are always working to preserve our health and cooks to destroy it, but the latter are the more often successful.

L'esprit de l'escalier [staircase wit].

If your little savage were left to himself and to his native blindness, he would in time join the infant's reasoning to the grown man's passion—he would strangle his father and sleep with his mother.

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.

Good music is very close to primitive language.

My thoughts are my trollops.

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.

The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action.

I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it.