Denis Diderot Quotes

Found your opinions on facts, not prejudices. We know too many things that are not true

I used to have so many opinions before I learned the facts.

Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.

Some people have facts; these can be proven. Some people have theories; these can be disproven. But people with opinions are mindless and have their minds made up about it.

Opinion is the death of knowledge.

The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.

Quotations are useful in periods of ignorance or obscurantist beliefs.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness.

You will never succeed in getting at the truth if you know, ahead of time, what the truth ought to be

Though what we accept be true, it is a prejudice unless we ourselves have considered and understood why and how it is true.

The habit of an opinion often leads to the complete conviction of its truth, it hides the weaker parts of it, and makes us incapable of accepting the proofs against it.

For the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

Facts matter, especially when they conflict with dogma and preconceived notions. Pretending otherwise has consequences.

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

You're entitled your own opinions, but you're not entitled to your own facts.

Do not banish reason for inequality; but let your reason serve to make the truth appear where it seems hid, and hide the false seems true.

Don't hold strong opinions about things you don't truly understand.

Truth is too weak to combat prejudice.

A few drops of science will often disinfect an entire barrel full of ignorance and prejudice.

Education is the process of driving a set of prejudices down your throat.

If people are informed they will do the right thing. It's when they are not informed that they become hostages to prejudice.

The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices.

Let the winds of evidence blow you about as though you are a leaf, with no direction of your own. Beware lest you fight a rearguard retreat against the evidence, grudgingly conceding each foot of ground only when forced, feeling cheated. Surrender to the truth as quickly as you can.