James Wood, comp. Dictionary of Quotations. 1899.
Diderot
Donnez, mais, si vous pouvez, épargnez au pauvre, la honte de tendre la main—Give, but, if possible, spare the poor man the shame of holding out the hand.
Give, but, if possible, spare the poor man the shame of begging.
Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.
La reconnaissance est un fardeau, et tout fardeau est fait pour être secoué—Gratitude is a burden, and every burden is made to be shaken off.
Mental courage, infinitely rarer than valour, presupposes the most eminent qualities.
On avale à pleine gorgée le mensonge qui nous flatte, et l’on boit goute à goute une vérité qui nous est amère—We swallow at one draught the lie that flatters us, and drink drop by drop the truth which is bitter to us.
Sentences are like sharp nails, which force truth upon our memory.
We swallow at one gulp a lie which flatters us, but only drop by drop a truth which is bitter to us.