Rameau's Nephew

Explore 1 quote from Rameau's Nephew

There are two sorts of laws, those of absolute equity and universality, and the bizarre ones which owe their autonomy only to blindness or to the force of circumstance. The latter merely cover the man who is breaking them with a passing disgrace, which time then transfers to the judges and the nations, on whom it remains forever.

Denis Diderot

More information about this quote

Topic

Natural law Custom and convention Law

Author

Denis Diderot

Source

Rameau's Nephew

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1805 1800s 19th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Diderot, Denis. Le Neveu de Rameau, ou La Satire seconde [The Nephew of Rameau, or the Second Satire]. 1805 (German); 1891 (original French manuscript).

Current Citation

Diderot, Denis. "Rameau's Nephew." Rameau's Nephew and Other Works, translated by Jacques Barzun and Ralph H. Bowen. Hackett Publishing Company, 2001.