13 Denis Diderot Quotes on Society

Denis Diderot quotes on society

1. From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

6. There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies.

11. Man was born to live with his fellow human beings. Separate him, isolate him, his character will go bad, a thousand ridiculous affects will invade his heart, extravagant thoughts will germinate in his brain, like thorns in an uncultivated land.

44. If exclusive privileges were not granted, and if the financial system would not tend to concentrate wealth, there would be few great fortunes and no quick wealth. When the means of growing rich is divided between a greater number of citizens, wealth will also be more evenly distributed; extreme poverty and extreme wealth would be also rare.

51. It is not human nature we should accuse but the despicable conventions that pervert it.

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.

58. People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm.

67. 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.

69. In any country where talent and virtue produce no advancement, money will be the national god. Its inhabitants will either have to possess money or make others believe that they do. Wealth will be the highest virtue, poverty the greatest vice. Those who have money will display it in every imaginable way. If their ostentation does not exceed their fortune, all will be well. But if their ostentation does exceed their fortune they will ruin themselves. In such a country, the greatest fortunes will vanish in the twinkling of an eye. Those who don't have money will ruin themselves with vain efforts to conceal their poverty. That is one kind of affluence: the outward sign of wealth for a small number, the mask of poverty for the majority, and a source of corruption for all.

71. Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

72. 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.

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

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.