Voltaire Quotes

To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.

Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.

The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.

The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.

We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies – it is the first law of nature.

Weakness on both sides is, as we know, the motto of all quarrels.

We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard.

Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.

Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.

Let the punishments of criminals be useful. A hanged man is good for nothing; a man condemned to public works still serves the country, and is a living lesson.

Of all religions, the Christian should of course inspire the most tolerance, but until now Christians have been the most intolerant of all men.

I die adoring God, loving my friends, not hating my enemies, and detesting superstition.

Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.

Such is the feebleness of humanity, such is its perversity, that doubtless it is better for it to be subject to all possible superstitions, as long as they are not murderous, than to live without religion.

Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die.

One great use of words is to hide our thoughts.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.