Denis Diderot

Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth. ”

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step. ”

There is only one passion, the passion for happiness. ”

One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man's suffering to them. One forgets that they are also the source of all his pleasures. ”

Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things. ”

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! ”

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

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

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. ”