Voltaire, an eminent philosopher during the Enlightenment era, is best known for his wit, advocacy for civil liberties, and outspoken criticism of institutional dogma. His incisive aphorisms stand the test of time, resonating with various facets of human life, such as freedom, love, faith, and knowledge. These quotes signify Voltaire's profound understanding of human psychology and his skill in capturing the essence of human experiences. Here, we delve into the depths of his wisdom by exploring thematic collections of his famous quotes. Let these words inspire introspection, spark conversation, and maybe even incite change, as they are as relevant today as they were in his time.
Quotes on Freedom
"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
"Liberty of thought is the life of the soul."
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere."
"When a nation begins to think, it is unlikely to stop."
"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too."
"Tolerance has never meant indifference."
"Freedom is the source of virtue."
"To hold a pen is to be at war."
"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be."
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason."
"He who is absent is always in the wrong."
"Injustice in the end produces independence."
Quotes on Knowledge
"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers."
"We must cultivate our garden."
"The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing."
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."
"No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."
"All is for the best, in the best of all possible worlds."
"The great consolation in life is to say what one thinks."
"Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
"Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all, and others to persecute those who do reason."
"It is vain for the coward to flee; death follows close behind."
"He must be very ignorant, for he answers every question he is asked."
"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."
Quotes on Faith
"Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe."
"Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy: the mad daughter of a wise mother."
"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."
"To succeed in chaining the multitude, you must seem to wear the same fetters."
"A witty saying proves nothing."
"To believe in God is impossible not to believe is absurd."
"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."
"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 longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore, all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one."
Quotes on Love
"Love truth, but pardon error."
"The more I see of men, the more I admire dogs."
"We never live; we are always in the expectation of living."
"Love has become a common philosophy. No one resembles it, yet everyone professes it."
"If you want to be loved, be lovable."
"Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination."
"The ear is the avenue to the heart."
"Marriage is the only adventure open to the cowardly."
"Pleasure is the object, duty and the goal of all rational creatures."
"What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity."
"The heart has its own reasons that reason knows not of."
"The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error."
Quotes on Happiness
"The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude."
"I choose to be happy because it is good for my health."
"The greatest consolation in life is to say what one thinks."
"Let us work without theorizing. That is the only way to make life endurable."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty person rather than to condemn an innocent one."
"Do well and you will have no need for a family tree."
"Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road."
"Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference."
"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
"God makes me laugh, and to be sure, rakish people make me laugh as well."
"If we do not find anything pleasant, at least we shall find something new."
"Happiness is an end but pleasure is a means."
Quotes on Truth
"My trade is to say what I think."
"Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it."
"Dare to think for yourself."
"If there were no God, it would have been necessary to invent him."
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."
"Candor is the virtue of humanity. This is what the Enlightenment possessed."
"Truth is a fruit which should not be plucked until it is ripe."
"The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it."
"All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God."
"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 to win the game."
"We are all full of weakness and errors, let us mutually pardon each other our follies: it is the first law of nature."
"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world."
Quotes on Power
"The art of government is to make two-thirds of a nation pay all it possibly can pay for the benefit of the other third."
"It is perilous to be the next-of-kin to a coward."
"Men will always be mad, and those who think they can cure them are the maddest of all."
"The public is a ferocious beast: one must either chain it or flee from it."
"Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable."
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."
"No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."
"The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination."
"If the public can't fail to rush to support their oppressors, you can at least show their crimes."
"The greatest freedom consists in submitting to no others."
"He who fights too long against dragons becomes a dragon himself."
"Men use thought only to justify their wrongdoings and speech only to conceal their thoughts."
Quotes on Philosophy
"I hate women because they always know where things are."
"Common sense is not so common."
"Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
"What can you say to a man who says he prefers the image and the sound of frogs to the sound of cricket and nightingales?"
"We must cultivate our garden."
"What most persons consider as virtue, after the age of forty is simply a loss of energy."
"He who thinks himself wise, O heavens, is a great fool."
"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
"Life is like a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats."
"I know of no great man except those who have rendered great services to the human race."
"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."
Quotes on Tolerance
"It does not require many words to speak the truth."
"What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity."
"It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love."
"The rights that belong to us as men and women are the rights that we all agree to right now. If any one of these rights damages no one, it should be preserved."
"A man can have millions in wealth at the world’s credit, but the luckiest are those who have just one true friend."
"Tolerance has never meant indifference. Allowing the great to pass away with the small, the worthy forgotten after the unworthy - no, that is not what tolerance is."
"I was never ruined by the people. If I have fallen, and I have, I first tell myself to get back up."
"A lost drop of water causes ineffaceable turmoil within the sea."
"Outrage, cruelty, and despair are conditions of the soul."
"The longest sword and the best custom combine to make great riches."
"A philosopher asks questions, which is why he is often hated by those who claim they are wise."
"The comfort of knowing a person well is often mistaken for knowing them well."
Quotes on Society
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."
"History consists of a series of accumulated imaginative experiences that are universally accepted."
"Despair no longer attracts when it is shown to be old-fashioned."
"A confusing mixture of ideas alone can form the motives for irrational actions, while calm knowledge steers us toward more civilized relationships."
"When we stop speaking of what we know, the truth collapses like a pile of stones under its own weight, and this is where the world becomes intolerant."
"God created man because He grew bored with marble theaters and noble baths."
"The most inventive extravagance is an attempt to reduce the mind virtually to the level of a brute by making entertainments to amuse those fed up with daily drudgery."
"We are, every one of us, statues that shed tears, groan, or even laugh redundantly."
"A tragedy can happen quickly, but it takes time to build something great."
"Love consists not in gazing at each other, but looking outward together in the same direction."
"We never live, but we are always in the expectation of living."
"It is absurd to regard the human mind as anything other than a mirror for which nature has omitted the handle."
Final words
Voltaire’s quotes serve as more than just insight; they are a call to action, questioning the status quo and encouraging progress where needed. By dissecting elements like freedom, knowledge, faith, and love, Voltaire provokes thought, curiosity, and probes moral and social ideals. His words maintain relevance in today’s world, where the fight for freedom and justice continues, and where truth and integrity remain paramount. What resonates most is Voltaire's deep-seated belief in the possibilities of human reason and wisdom. To live well, according to Voltaire, demands constant questioning, relentless pursuit of knowledge, and boundless exploration of love and kindness. We hope these quotes inspire you to think deeply, live freely, and love abundantly.
