10 Denis Diderot Quotes on Power

Denis Diderot quotes on power

7. Impenetrable in their dissimulation, cruel in their vengeance, tenacious in their purposes, unscrupulous as to their methods, animated by profound and hidden hatred for the tyranny of man - it is as though there exists among them an ever-present conspiracy toward domination, a sort of alliance like that subsisting among the priests of every country.

8. 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.

12. Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.

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

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

40. Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the force of him who commands prevails over that of those who obey.

56. 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.

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

76. 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.

93. Diderot took the ground that, if orthodox religion be true Christ was guilty of suicide. Having the power to defend himself he should have used it.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.