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What is a monster? A being whose survival is incompatible with the existing order.

Denis Diderot

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Denis Diderot
Age: 70 †
Born: 1713
Born: October 5
Died: 1784
Died: July 31
Abbé
Art Critic
Art Theorist
Correspondent
Encyclopédistes
Essayist
Historian
Lexicographer
Literary Critic
Literary Theorist
Lumières
Diderot
Monsters
Survival
Whose
Order
Incompatible
Monster
Existing

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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.
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The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them on occasion.
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If the weather is too cold or rainy, I take shelter in the Regence Cafe, where I entertain myself by watching chess being played. Paris is the world center, and this cafe is the Paris centre for the finest skill at this game.
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The general interest of the masses might take the place of the insight of genius if it were allowed freedom of action.
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Those who fear the facts will forever try to discredit the fact-finders.
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Scepticism is the first step towards truth.
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Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.
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There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.
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In general, children, like men, and men, like children, prefer entertainment to education.
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A thing is not proved just because no one has ever questioned it. What has never been gone into impartially has never been properly gone into. Hence scepticism is the first step toward truth. It must be applied generally, because it is the touchstone.
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Two qualities essential for the artist: moralityand perspective.
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In order to get as much fame as one's father one has to much more able than he.
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No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason.
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All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.
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He whom we call a gentleman is no longer the man of Nature.
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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.
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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.
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The bad gives rise to the good, the good inspires the better, the better produces the excellent, the excellent is followed by the bizarre
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Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. They are entirely different things.
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There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.
Denis Diderot