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Voltaire

92 quotes

Voltaire (1694–1778) was the pen name of François-Marie Arouet, a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, advocacy of civil liberties, and criticism of established religion and institutions. His satirical novel *Candide* remains one of the most widely read works of French literature.

“Divorce is probably of nearly the same date as marriage. I believe, however, that marriage is some weeks the more ancient.”

— Voltaire

Marriage

All Quotes by Voltaire

“Men use thought only as authority for their injustice, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.”

— Voltaire

Men

“We are rarely proud when we are alone.”

— Voltaire

Alone

“The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work.”

— Voltaire

Work

“All styles are good except the tiresome kind.”

— Voltaire

Good

“What most persons consider as virtue, after the age of 40 is simply a loss of energy.”

— Voltaire

Age

“All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God.”

— Voltaire

God

“History should be written as philosophy.”

— Voltaire

History

“Love has features which pierce all hearts, he wears a bandage which conceals the faults of those beloved. He has wings, he comes quickly and flies away the same.”

— Voltaire

Love

“The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.”

— Voltaire

Great

“If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.”

— Voltaire

God

“The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.”

— Voltaire

Death

“He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend provided, of course, he really is dead.”

— Voltaire

Great

“Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare.”

— Voltaire

Truth

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”

— Voltaire

Alone

“Better is the enemy of good.”

— Voltaire

Good

“He who has not the spirit of this age, has all the misery of it.”

— Voltaire

Age

“It is forbidden to kill therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

— Voltaire

War

“What then do you call your soul? What idea have you of it? You cannot of yourselves, without revelation, admit the existence within you of anything but a power unknown to you of feeling and thinking.”

— Voltaire

Power

“Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy the mad daughter of a wise mother. These daughters have too long dominated the earth.”

— Voltaire

Religion

“Perfection is attained by slow degrees it requires the hand of time.”

— Voltaire

Time