Denis Diderot — French Editor born on October 05, 1713, died on July 31, 1784

Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert... (wikipedia)

There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge... observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination.
The God of the Christians is a father who makes much of his apples, and very little of his children.
There are things I can't force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest change needed is a change of my viewpoint.
To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!
From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.