Top Voltaire Quotes

As a rule, theologians know nothing of this world, and far less of the next; but they have the power of stating the most absurd propositions with faces solemn as stupidity touched by fear.It is a part...

As a convinced atheist, I ought to agree with Voltaire that Judaism is not just one more religion, but in its way the root of religious evil. Without the stern, joyless rabbis and their 613 dour prohi...

¿ Por qué morían tan jóvenes?, se pregunta Stefan Zweig hablando de aquella generación y de su lucha con el demonio. Novalis, quien, casi por su voluntad, un día cerró los ojos como un niño y mágicame...

Kissinger projects a strong impression of a man at home in the world and on top of his brief. But there are a number of occasions when it suits him to pose as a sort of Candide: naive, and ill-prepare...

[Voltaire] theoretically prefers a republic, but he knows its flaws: it permits factions which, if they do not bring on civil war, at least destroy national unity; it is suited only to small states pr...

I only read books if Voltaire's cock has been dipped in red ink and rolled over the cover.

Joie est mon caractere,C'est la faute a Voltaire;Misere est mon trousseauC'est la faute a Rousseau.[Joy is my character,'Tis the fault of Voltaire;Misery is my trousseau

I should like to know which is worse: to be ravished a hundred times by pirates, and have a buttock cut off, and run the gauntlet of the Bulgarians, and be flogged and hanged in an auto-da-fe, and be...

You are very harsh.''I have seen the world.

It is love; love, the comfort of the human species, the preserver of the universe, the soul of all sentient beings, love, tender love.

An opportunity fordoing an injury happens a hundred times a day, hut for doing good not once a year," says Zoroaster.

Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law.

God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.

But there must be some pleasure in condemning everything--in perceiving faults where others think they see beauties.''You mean there is pleasure in having no pleasure.

Hast thou found out, Voltaire, that it is bliss to die, And does thy hideous smile over thy bleached bones fly?

There are, and always have been, destructive pseudo-scientific notions linked to race and religion; these are the most widespread and damaging. Hopefully, educated people can succeed in shedding light...

Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.

Thus, though I dislike to differ with such a great man, was simply ludicrous when he said that if god did not exist it would be necessary to invent him. The human invention of god is the problem to b...

Voltaire expected that within fifty years of his lifetime there would not be one Bible in the world. His house is now a distribution centre for Bibles in many languages.