600 Quotations from the Great 18th Century Writers

‘600 Quotations from the Great 18th Century Writers’ is a collection of inspiring thoughts and reflections from six of the greatest literary minds of all time.

During this time, society was experiencing a cultural upheaval, with more emphasis being placed on happiness and the pursuit of knowledge.

While these quotes might be over 200 years old, they bear as much relevance today as they did when they were first coined.

A superb read for dipping in and out of.



Born in Geneva, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778) was a spearhead in the European Enlightenment movement. Montesquieu (1689 – 1755) was a Frenchman, whose writing had a huge influence on political systems. Also born in France, Denis Diderot (1713 – 1784) was a writer and central figure in the Age of Enlightenment.

Scottish economist, Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) wrote treatises on morality and economics. German physicist, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799) satirised superstition and wrote extensively about natural phenomena. Pierre Beaumarchais (1732 – 1799) was a French playwright, spy, diplomat, and watchmaker.