Denis Diderot

The first step towards philosophy is incredulity. ”

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy. ”

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. ”

Pithy sentences are like sharp nails which force truth upon our memory. ”

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. ”

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

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey. ”

The infant runs toward it with its eyes closed, the adult is stationary, the old man approaches it with his back turned. ”

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

Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. They are entirely different things. ”