Author of Candide, François-Marie Arouet was born in Paris in the chilly November of 1694 and became the philosopher and enlightenment writer we all know as Voltaire.
We're glad he changed his name because Voltaire is way cooler than François-Marie Arouet. It would've been a shame to see such brilliance, defiance, satirical wit, vivacious criticism and freethinking intellect be doomed to obscurity because of a crappy name.
But, whatever his name, Voltaire offered many inspiring and thought-provoking quotes throughout his fascinating career and life, making him an icon of free speech and intellectualism. Here, we have listed 26 of his quotes. These are among my favorite, so enjoy!
26 Voltaire Quotes
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Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.
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Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.
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Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
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The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.
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Common sense is not so common.
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I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it.
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God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.
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Dare to think for yourself.
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Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.
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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.
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It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.
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Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.
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Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the time.
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Don't think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.
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The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.
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What is history? The lie that everyone agrees on.
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Men will always be mad, and those who think they can cure them are the maddest of all.
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Perfect is the enemy of good.
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He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.
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Liberty of thought is the life of the soul.
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May God defend me from my friends: I can defend myself from my enemies.
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Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference.
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It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.
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Illusion is the first of all pleasures.
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Let us cultivate our garden.
Known for his cunning wit, profound reason and enlightened brand of libertarianism, Voltaire is essential today as he ever was. Hopefully, these 26 Voltaire quotes have inspired you to cultivate your garden and continue to employ reason and critical thinking throughout your life.
If you enjoyed these, you may also like, "19 of The Best Ron Swanson Quotes"
