Voltaire, a leading figure of the Enlightenment, left behind a legacy of wit and wisdom that continues to resonate today. His sharp intellect and keen observations on society, religion, and philosophy invite reflection and provide insight into human nature and societal structures. Voltaire quotes reveal a deep understanding of human behavior and illustrate his enduring belief in reason and freedom of thought. Each quote encapsulates the spirit of critical inquiry and advocacy for individual liberty. In this article, we will explore ten categories of Voltaire quotes, each capturing different facets of his profound thinking. Through these quotes, readers can gain inspiration and challenge conventional views, leading to personal growth and broader understanding.
Famous Voltaire Quotes
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
"Common sense is not so common."
"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers."
"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."
"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong."
"The secret of being a bore is to tell everything."
"Liberty of thought is the life of the soul."
"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him."
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason."
"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."
Voltaire Quotes on Freedom
"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one."
"Freedom is the right to choose."
"Tolerance has never provoked a civil war."
"What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity."
"To hold a pen is to be at war."
"Every human being must be viewed according to what it is good for, self is the basis of every virtue."
"All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women."
"Faith consists in believing what reason cannot."
"No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."
"In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another."
"All men have an equal right to liberty and other pleasures, provided they do not infringe upon the rights of others."
Voltaire Quotes on Religion
"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
"If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him."
"Religion is a most lucrative trade."
"The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity."
"Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe."
"The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reason."
"Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them."
"Many are destined to reason wrongly, others not to reason at all, and others to persecute those who do reason."
"What is faith? It is a firm and enthusiastic hope."
"God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere."
"It is love alone that leads to happiness."
"The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error."
Voltaire Quotes on Love
"Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination."
"Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
"The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing."
"Love truth, but pardon error."
"Men will always be mad, and those who think they can cure them are the maddest of all."
"All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women."
"We never live; we are always in the expectation of living."
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him: but once they are in hand, he alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."
"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."
"Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses."
"Pleasure is the object, duty, and the goal of all rational creatures."
"Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts."
Voltaire Quotes on Life
"Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats."
"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."
"Life is but a dream."
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him: but once they are in hand, he alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."
"All is for the best, in the best of all possible worlds."
"I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health."
"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one."
"The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it."
"All the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books."
"To enjoy life, we must touch much of it lightly."
"It is better to risk an action than to suffer inaction."
Voltaire Quotes on Society
"The instant we in triumph, we must see the prospect of a better world."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one."
"Let us cultivate our garden."
"What we find in books is like the fire in our hearts."
"Society is composed of two great classes: those who have more dinners than appetite, and those who have more appetite than dinners."
"History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes."
"The history of human opinion is scarcely anything more than the history of human errors."
"Originality is nothing but judicious imitation."
"Work is often the father of pleasure."
"A witty saying proves nothing."
"When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion."
"Let us read and let us dance—two amusements that will never do any harm to the world."
Voltaire Quotes on Truth
"In the case of news, we should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation."
"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."
"Let us cultivate our garden."
"The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs."
"If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him."
"One merit of poetry few persons will deny: it says more and in fewer words than prose."
"Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts."
"It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one."
"I hate women because they always know where things are."
"Adultery is the greatest of all the crimes that man can commit, except for murder."
"It is not enough to conquer; one must learn to seduce."
"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth."
Voltaire Quotes on Education
"The more you read without comprehension, the more you'll learn and forget."
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
"No problem can withstand the application of everyday diligence."
"Common sense, so-named remarkably, is about as prevalent in the world as unicorns or dragons."
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason."
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."
"Words make noise, actions produce silence."
"True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing."
"Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
"The best is the enemy of the good."
"There is no greater economic inequality than between man and woman—in education, business, and in the world."
Voltaire Quotes on Philosophy
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere."
"Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one."
"Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives."
"Opinion has caused more trouble in this little world than plagues or earthquakes."
"There is no history, only fables agreed upon."
"All reasoning ends in a paradox."
"Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know of no other remedy than to cultivate one's garden."
"Truth is a fruit that can only be picked when it is very ripe."
"Chance is not the equivalent of destiny."
"He who thinks to please with mere words, or to catch with mere money, lives in ignorance of all things."
"Injustice in the end produces independence."
"The best way to become boring is to leave nothing out."
Voltaire Quotes on Enlightenment
"Dare to think for yourself."
"An educated mind is a liberated mind."
"Scepticism is the first step toward truth."
"I am freed from all superstitions."
"No problem with contradictions; they create opportunity."
"It is the trade of the clever to deflect reality."
"Enlightenment is the key to happiness."
"The art of government is to make two-thirds of a nation pay all it possibly can pay for the benefit of the third."
"History is the record of immortality."
"A witty saying proves nothing."
"Prejudices are what the greatest fools have in common with the wisest of men."
"The discovery of what is true, and the practice of that which is good, are the two most important aims of philosophy."
Final words
In the tapestry of human thought, Voltaire's threads run distinctly, illuminating the structures of reason, liberty, and humanity. His sharp insights challenge us to question and reevaluate entrenched beliefs while framing our understanding of our liberties and responsibilities. Voltaire's words encourage introspection and vigilance, urging society to uphold individual freedom and the endless pursuit of truth and justice. These quotes, drawn from profound reflections on society, religion, love, and enlightenment, continue to inspire and provoke thought, reminding us of the importance of free expression and critical inquiry. As we delve into Voltaire's ideas, we enrich our minds and invigorate our passions, creating an enduring connection that transcends time and continues to shape the world.
