Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.

—Denis Diderot

About Denis Diderot

Portrait of Denis Diderot

Denis Diderot (; French: [dəni did(ə)ʁo]; 5 October 1713 – 31 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment.

More quotations from Denis Diderot

No man has received from nature the right to command his fellow human beings.

—Denis Diderot

The number of books will grow continually, and one can predict that a time will come when it will be almost as difficult to learn anything from books as from the direct study of the whole universe. It will be almost as convenient to search for some bit of truth concealed in nature as it will be to find it hidden away in an immense multitude of bound volumes.

—Denis Diderot

There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.

—Denis Diderot

morality inconvenience

You have to make it happen.

—Denis Diderot

doing power change

More quotations tagged with “passion”

Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot.

—D. H. Lawrence

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose.

Give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will wear him in my hearts core.

—William Shakespeare

passion men and women

Passion is momentary; love is enduring.

History

11 Jul 2015 Added