V

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.

“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

All Quotes by Voltaire

“Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense.”

— Voltaire

Religion

“Fear follows crime and is its punishment.”

— Voltaire

Fear

“What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature.”

— Voltaire

Nature

“There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.”

— Voltaire

Men

“History should be written as philosophy.”

— Voltaire

History

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

— Voltaire

Marriage

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

— Voltaire

War

“Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.”

— Voltaire

History

“God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.”

— Voltaire

God

“History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes.”

— Voltaire

History

“Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.”

— Voltaire

Power

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

— Voltaire

Great

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

— Voltaire

Time

“Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.”

— Voltaire

God

“What a heavy burden is a name that has become too famous.”

— Voltaire

Famous

“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

“Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.”

— Voltaire

Best

“Let us work without theorizing, tis the only way to make life endurable.”

— Voltaire

Work

“All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women.”

— Voltaire

Men

“We are all full of weakness and errors let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.”

— Voltaire

Nature