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If there is one realm in which it is essential to be sublime, it is in wickedness. You spit on a petty thief, but you can't deny a kind of respect for the great criminal.

Denis Diderot

Respect

Wickedness

His hands would plait the priest's guts, if he had no rope, to strangle kings.

Denis Diderot

Kings

Gratitude is a burden, and every burden is made to be shaken off.

Denis Diderot

Gratitude

Burden

Good music is very close to primitive language.

Denis Diderot

Music

Language

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.

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

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

Denis Diderot

Fanaticism

Evil always turns up in this world through some genius or other.

Every man has his dignity. I'm willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.

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.

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

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully; and is good, self-possessed, has faith and is pure; and if he does not hurt any living being, he is a holy man.

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

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.

Denis Diderot

Man

Will

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!