Denis Diderot died today – 223 years ago

French philosopher Denis Diderot was born on October 5, 1713 in Langres, France. He said, “Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.” [Yep! That’s what it means.]... Mr. Diderot died in 1784 in Paris, France.

U.S. President (17th) Andrew Johnson was born on December 29, 1808 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He said, “I am sworn to uphold the Constitution as Andy Johnson understands it and interprets it.” [And that’s the problem: as I “understand” and “interpret” the Constitution.]... Mr. Johnson died in 1875 in Greeneville, Tennessee.

French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery was born as Jean-Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint-Exupéry on June 29, 1900 Lyon, France. He said, “Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” [And that’s why I never grew up... so I could keep explaining things.]... Mr. de Saint-Exupery died in 1944.

U.S. writer Michael Harrington was born as Edward Michael Harrington on February 24, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a so-called “socialist”. He said, “Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best-dressed poverty the world has ever known." [And now they've got TV and the internet and...]... Mr. Harrington died in 1989.