Voltaire, pseud. de Fran�ois-Marie Arouet
France
21 Nov 1694 // 30 May 1778
Philosopher / Writer / Historian
21 Nov 1694 // 30 May 1778
Philosopher / Writer / Historian
Quotes
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To hold a pen is to be at war
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too
The world embarrasses me, and I cannot dream that this watch exists and has no watchmaker
The very impossibility in which I find myself to prove that God is not, discovers to me his existence
The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death
The multitude of books is making us ignorant
The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all
The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great
The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out
Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays
Essays