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The image is an illustration of the Bastille, the storm of which is seen as the culmination of the French Revolution, a massive triumph of evil over good. However, Diderot was speaking of the American Revolution, quite a different historical context.

I took the quote of Diderot from a book about JFK by a French author. I copied it exactly as written in that book. It was the only book I have ever seen the quote in.

As far as the illustration, after thinking about it a while, I came to the conclusion I copied the photo from a book on gutenberg.org.

Now, I had no idea the quote was aimed at the American Revolution when I put the 2 together. And that was long ago.

Thank you for making the connection. As you said, the Storming of the Bastille was a number of years later.

As far as accuracy of the quote, it may be due to translation. I am pretty sure it was originally written in French, which I do not speak.

I must admit, I did not understand that it was late in 1782 before the English signed a preliminary treaty agreeing to the independence of the United States.

But I am puzzled about your statement: “a massive triumph of evil over good”.

I agree there was great evil at the end of the French Revolution. But I see nothing “good” about French Aristocracy.