Voltaire Quotes

If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.

History is a pack of lies we play on the dead.

When we cannot use the compass of mathematics or the torch of experience...it is certain we cannot take a single step forward.

The superstitious man is to the rogue what the slave is to the tyrant.

Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.

Man is not born wicked; he becomes so, as he becomes sick.

A good cook is a certain slow poisoner, if you are not temperate.

He who is not just is severe, he who is not wise is sad.

The Deluge: A punishment inflicted on the human race by an all-knowing God, who, through not having foreseen the wickedness of men, repented of having made them, and drowned them once for all to make them better - an act which, as we all know, was accompanied by the greatest success.

Beware of the words "internal security," for they are the eternal cry of the oppressor.

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. Tecumseh Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

I confess that my stomach does not take to this style of cooking. I cannot accept calves sweetbreads swimming in a salty sauce, nor can I eat mince consisting of turkey, hare, and rabbit, which they try to persuade me comes from a single animal... As for the cooks, I really cannot be expected to put up with this ham essence, nor the excessive quantity of morels and other mushrooms, pepper, and nutmeg with which they disguise perfectly good food.

She blushed and so did he. She greeted him in a faltering voice, and he spoke to her without knowing what he was saying.

Better is the enemy of good.

I believe that there never was a creator of a philosophical system who did not confess at the end of his life that he had wasted his time. It must be admitted that the inventors of the mechanical arts have been much more useful to men that the inventors of syllogisms. He who imagined a ship towers considerably above him who imagined innate ideas.

He is lifeless that is faultless.

When he who hears does not know what he who speaks means, and when he who speaks does not know what he himself means, that is philosophy.

Let us therefore reject all superstition in order to become more human; but in speaking against fanaticism, let us not imitate the fanatics: they are sick men in delirium who want to chastise their doctors. Let us assuage their ills, and never embitter them, and let us pour drop by drop into their souls the divine balm of toleration, which they would reject with horror if it were offered to them all at once.

Doubt is not a very agreeable status, but certainty is a ridiculous one.

Often the prudent, far from making their destinies, succumb to them. -Francois

Which is more dangerous: fanaticism or atheism? Fanaticism is certainly a thousand times more deadly; for atheism inspires no bloody passion whereas fanaticism does; atheism is opposed to crime and fanaticism causes crimes to be committed.

Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them

Whoever serves his country well has no need of ancestors.

Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.

Luxury has been railed at for two thousand years, in verse and in prose, and it has always been loved.

Fame is a heavy burden.

Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!

It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.

Despite the enormous quantity of books, how few people read! And if one reads profitably, one would realize how much stupid stuff the vulgar herd is content to swallow every day.

If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.

The Jews have always been waiting for a Messiah, but their Messiah is for them only, not for us, a Messiah ho will give them mastery over the Christians.

The husband who decides to surprise his wife is often very much surprised himself.

History is the study of the world's crime

Once your faith persuades you to believe what your intelligence declares absurd, beware, lest you likewise sacrifice your reason in the conduct of your life.

Fools have a habit of believing that everything written by a famous author is admirable. For my part I read only to please myself and like only what suits my taste.

It is love; love, the comfort of the human species, the preserver of the universe, the soul of all sentient beings, love, tender love.

Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror.

Men will commit atrocities as long as they believe absurdities.

Happiness is not the portion of man.

All the persecutors declare against each other mortal war, while the philosopher, oppressed by them all, contents himself with pitying them.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

Nature has always had more force than education.

God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest.

Inspiration: A peculiar effect of divine flatulence emitted by the Holy Spirit which hisses into the ears of a few chosen of God.

Martin in particular concluded that man was born to live either in the convulsions of misery, or in the lethargy of boredom.

Minds differ still more than faces.

No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.

The true character of liberty is independence, maintained by force.