Denis Diderot Quotes
There is only one step from fanaticism to barbarism.
Denis Diderot, 1713-1784, French Philosopher, Dedication, Essay on merit and virtue
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
He commonly incites Muslims to violence against other religions which he believes totally false. Therefore, in his interpretation of Islam, it is the obligation of Muslims to kill the heretics and blasphemers. See {620307}. He was one of the leading inciters of the Bali bombing which killed so many tourists. Notice the classic attempt to first dehumanize the people who are to be the targets of violence and atrocities to overcome the normal inhibitions of most humans to do violence to another.
This quotation is often given by those who believe that nothing has really changed regarding the Arabs and non-Islamic Westerners in the last century. While the support of dictators, Israel and support for that democracy, the artificial Western imposed borders, 9-11, or the Iraq war is often cited as the cause of Arab hostility and murderous aggression, as this quotation demonstrates, the problems and attitudes and behaviors existed long before any of these occurred. The borders were not set until after WWI and all the other causes occurred almost 50 years later, Yet there was still the propensity for fanaticism and violence. Sikes actually was one of those who was to determine the Arab borders, making one of the first “suggested” maps of the area for the English.
This statement of the Prophet is often quoted by Yusuf al-Qaradawi and other moderate, modernist Islamic clerics and leaders urging people to eschew terrorism and Muslim fundamentalist extremism.
Denis Diderot 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.
