Who said “People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death,…”?

Verified

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

SourceRameau's Nephew (1762)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm.”
VerifiedRameau's Nephew (1762) · evidenceVirtue

Cite this quote

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

APA

Diderot, D. (n.d.). People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41435-people-praise-virtue-but-they-hate-it-they/

MLA

Diderot, Denis. “People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41435-people-praise-virtue-but-they-hate-it-they/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Diderot, Denis. “People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it. It freezes you to death, and in this world you've got to keep your feet warm.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 25, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41435-people-praise-virtue-but-they-hate-it-they/.