Former president of France, Jacques Chirac, called Derrida "one of the major figures of the intellectual life of our times […] read, admired, translated, published, taught, and debated around the world." It's nice to have friends in high places. (Source.)

Get this: smartest-guy-ever Derrida was actually snubbed by the École Normale Supérieure twice before he finally gained admission. Ouch.(Source.)

Derrida is the rock star of literary criticism. But you know, rock stars don't nail it every time. Our guy was once booed off stage while pontificating on stage. Now that's harsh. (Source.)