Voltaire was the pen name of François-Marie Arouet. He was born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France. He was also a prominent French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher celebrated for his wit and advocacy of civil liberties. His achievements include being a prolific writer of plays, poems, essays, and novels; promoting Enlightenment ideals like freedom of speech and religion; and pioneering the modern philosophy of history. May these inspirational Voltaire quotes and sayings offer you insights into his ideals that will help on your life's journey.
1. “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” – Voltaire
2. “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” – Voltaire
3. “The best is the enemy of the good.” – Voltaire
4. “Love truth, but pardon error.” – Voltaire
5. “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” – Voltaire
6. “Freedom is to depend only on the law and not on men's whims.” – Voltaire
7. “To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.” – Voltaire
8. “Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need.” – Voltaire
9. “Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” – Voltaire
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10. “I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
11. “Common sense is not so common.” – Voltaire
12. “We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.” – Voltaire
13. “Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.” – Voltaire
14. “The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” – Voltaire
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15. “Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” – Voltaire
16. “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.” – Voltaire
17. “A long dispute means both parties are wrong.” – Voltaire
18. “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” – Voltaire
19. “It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” – Voltaire
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20. “It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.” – Voltaire
21. “Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.” – Voltaire
22. “The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood.” – Voltaire
23. “When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion.” – Voltaire
24. “The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.” – Voltaire
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25. “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” – Voltaire
26. “We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies; it is the first law of nature.” – Voltaire
27. “Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination.” – Voltaire
28. “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” – Voltaire
29. “Whatever you do, crush the infamous thing, and love those who love you.” – Voltaire
30. “Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” – Voltaire
More Famous Quotes by Voltaire
31. “The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.” – Voltaire
32. “Men were not born wolves, they have become wolves. God has not given them twenty-four-pounders nor bayonets, yet they made bayonets and cannons in order to destroy one another.” – Voltaire
33. “It is not enough to conquer; one must learn to seduce.” – Voltaire
34. “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” – Voltaire
35. “Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.” – Voltaire
36. “If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.” – Voltaire
37. “Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.” – Voltaire
38. “The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.” – Voltaire
39. “Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.” – Voltaire
40. “It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” – Voltaire
41. “The superfluous, a very necessary thing.” – Voltaire
42. “The greatest madness of mankind is to make war a matter of honor.” – Voltaire
43. “Injustice in the end produces independence.” – Voltaire
44. “By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.” – Voltaire
45. “Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” – Voltaire
46. “To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.” – Voltaire
47. “Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?” – Voltaire
48. “Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.” – Voltaire
49. “Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause.” – Voltaire
50. “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” – Voltaire
51. “Tears are the silent language of grief.” – Voltaire
52. “We are rarely proud when we are alone.” – Voltaire
53. “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” – Voltaire
54. “It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.” – Voltaire
55. “What a heavy burden is a name that has become too famous.” – Voltaire
56. “Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts.” – Voltaire
57. “All men are born with a nose and five fingers, but no one is born with a knowledge of God.” – Voltaire
58. “Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.” – Voltaire
59. “Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.” – Voltaire
60. “The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.” – Voltaire
Share these Best Voltaire Quotes on Life with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.
2. “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” – Voltaire
3. “The best is the enemy of the good.” – Voltaire
4. “Love truth, but pardon error.” – Voltaire
5. “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” – Voltaire
6. “Freedom is to depend only on the law and not on men's whims.” – Voltaire
7. “To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.” – Voltaire
8. “Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need.” – Voltaire
9. “Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” – Voltaire
11. “Common sense is not so common.” – Voltaire
12. “We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.” – Voltaire
13. “Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.” – Voltaire
14. “The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” – Voltaire
16. “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.” – Voltaire
17. “A long dispute means both parties are wrong.” – Voltaire
18. “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” – Voltaire
19. “It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” – Voltaire
21. “Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.” – Voltaire
22. “The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood.” – Voltaire
23. “When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion.” – Voltaire
24. “The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.” – Voltaire
26. “We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies; it is the first law of nature.” – Voltaire
27. “Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination.” – Voltaire
28. “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” – Voltaire
29. “Whatever you do, crush the infamous thing, and love those who love you.” – Voltaire
30. “Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” – Voltaire
More Famous Quotes by Voltaire
31. “The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.” – Voltaire
32. “Men were not born wolves, they have become wolves. God has not given them twenty-four-pounders nor bayonets, yet they made bayonets and cannons in order to destroy one another.” – Voltaire
33. “It is not enough to conquer; one must learn to seduce.” – Voltaire
34. “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” – Voltaire
35. “Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.” – Voltaire
36. “If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.” – Voltaire
37. “Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.” – Voltaire
38. “The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.” – Voltaire
39. “Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.” – Voltaire
40. “It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” – Voltaire
41. “The superfluous, a very necessary thing.” – Voltaire
42. “The greatest madness of mankind is to make war a matter of honor.” – Voltaire
43. “Injustice in the end produces independence.” – Voltaire
44. “By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.” – Voltaire
45. “Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” – Voltaire
46. “To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.” – Voltaire
47. “Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?” – Voltaire
48. “Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.” – Voltaire
49. “Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause.” – Voltaire
50. “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” – Voltaire
51. “Tears are the silent language of grief.” – Voltaire
52. “We are rarely proud when we are alone.” – Voltaire
53. “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” – Voltaire
54. “It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.” – Voltaire
55. “What a heavy burden is a name that has become too famous.” – Voltaire
56. “Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts.” – Voltaire
57. “All men are born with a nose and five fingers, but no one is born with a knowledge of God.” – Voltaire
58. “Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.” – Voltaire
59. “Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.” – Voltaire
60. “The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.” – Voltaire
Share these Best Voltaire Quotes on Life with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.