Denis Diderot Quotes

By doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.

If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things.

By doubting we come to questioning, and by questioning we perceive the truth.

What has not been examined impartially has not been well examined. Skepticism is therefore the first step towards truth.

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.

Doubt is the first step towards knowledge, not faith.

Inquiry is fatal to certainty.

The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

Doubt is the incentive to truth and inquiry leads the way.

True science teaches, above all, to doubt

Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent on thorough investigation, it may soon lead to full establishment of the truth.

Carl did not want to believe. He wanted to know.

Belief in truth begins with doubting all that has hitherto been believed to be true.

In doubting we come to inquiry; by inquiry we perceive the truth.

I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.

Doubt is the necessary tool of knowledge.

It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth.

The word 'belief' is a difficult thing for me. I don't believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it - I don't need to believe it.

The skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches, as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

Skepticism is the first step towards truth.

We'd all like to be certain of what we know, but I think the most important question is to ask yourself do you really know what you know?

It is wiser to find out than to suppose.