Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet, known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth21 November 1694
CityParis, France
CountryFrance
religion subject
Such is the feebleness of humanity, such is its perversity, that doubtless it is better for it to be subject to all possible superstitions, as long as they are not murderous, than to live without religion.
condemned criminals good hanged man public serves works
Let the punishments of criminals be useful. A hanged man is good for nothing; a man condemned to public works still serves the country, and is a living lesson.
cover covers manifest religion secret settled society wherever
Wherever there is a settled society, religion is necessary; the laws cover manifest crimes, and religion covers secret crimes.
happy life religion
Religion was instituted to make us happy in this life and in the other. What must we do to be happy in the life to come? Be just.
born five god knowledge men nose
All men are born with a nose and five fingers, but no one is born with a knowledge of God.
bad false good healthy ideas men money notions uses
When men do not have healthy notions of the Divinity, false ideas supplant them, just as in bad times one uses counterfeit money when there is no good money.
argument both dispute means parties wrong
A long dispute means that both parties are wrong
alone equality people virtue
All people are equal, it is not birth, it is virtue alone that makes the difference.
behold days french-writer god heaven night sky stars sun
You see many stars at night in the sky but find them not when the sun rises; can you say that there are no stars in the heaven of day? So, O man! because you behold not God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.
destiny vows
Your destiny is that of a man, and your vows those of a god.
ability arts devil succeed
You must have the devil in you to succeed in any of the arts
advantages animals cost funerals lawsuits starts
Animals have these advantages over man: They have no theologians to instruct them, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.
feels responsibility snowflake
No snowflake in an avalanch ever feels responsible.
judge questions rather
Judge a person by their questions, rather than their answers.