How did they meet? By chance, like everybody … Where did they come from? From the nearest place. Where were they going? Do we know where we are going? - Denis Diderot

Indeed, the purpose of an encyclopedia is to collect knowledge disseminated around the globe; to set forth its general system to the men with whom we live, and transmit it to those who will come after us, so that the work of preceding centuries will not become useless to the centuries to come; and so that our offspring, becoming better instructed, will at the same time become more virtuous and happy, and that we should not die without having rendered a service to the human race in the future years to come.

إنّ الشرف والفضيلة ، حين يكونا حقيقيين ، ليس لهما من ثمنٍ بتاتاً عند الذين سعدوا بامتلاكهما

What is a monster? A being whose survival is incompatible with the existing order.