Who said “We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a…”?

Verified

Denis Diderot. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceRameau's Nephew (1762)

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“We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.”
— Denis Diderot
VerifiedRameau's Nephew (1762) · evidenceTruth
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Rameau's Nephew (1762).

APA

Diderot, D. (n.d.). We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40731-we-swallow-greedily-any-lie-that-flatters-us/

MLA

Diderot, Denis. “We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40731-we-swallow-greedily-any-lie-that-flatters-us/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Diderot, Denis. “We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40731-we-swallow-greedily-any-lie-that-flatters-us/.

Related quotes

“Truth and virtue conquer.”
— Motto
Original (Latin)

Veritas et virtus vincunt

VerifiedLatin family motto; recorded in James Wood, Dictionary of Quotations (1899), p. 518 · evidenceDetails & citeTruth
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