Voltaire 1694 – 1778
Voltaire (1694 – 1778) was a French philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Enlightenment.
Francois-Marie Arouet, known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit and his advocacy of civil liberties. He authored more than seventy works across virtually every literary form, including the satirical novella Candide and the Philosophical Dictionary. He was a fierce critic of religious dogma, absolute monarchy, and clerical authority, and a defender of freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and the separation of church and state. His correspondence comprises some twenty thousand letters, and his ideas profoundly shaped the French Revolution and modern liberal political thought. He spent much of his life in exile or near-exile due to his outspoken criticism of authority.
Voltaire (the pen name of François-Marie Arouet, 1694–1778) was the most influential French philosophical writer of the eighteenth century and the central figure of the European Enlightenment. Born into a comfortable Parisian family, educated by the Jesuits, he was twice imprisoned in the Bastille for his writings and spent most of the 1750s and 1760s at Ferney, on the French-Swiss border, from which he could escape across the border on short notice.
Voltaire wrote in every genre the eighteenth century recognized: tragedies, epic poetry, philosophical letters, history, contes philosophiques, encyclopedia entries, and one of the most extensive correspondences in literary history. The Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733) presented English political and religious life as a model for French reform. The Philosophical Dictionary (1764) is a sustained encyclopedic attack on intolerance, superstition, and ecclesiastical authority. Candide (1759) — written in the wake of the Lisbon earthquake — is the canonical literary demolition of Leibnizian theological optimism.
Voltaire's enduring causes were religious toleration, freedom of expression, and the reform of judicial cruelty; his interventions in the Calas and Sirven cases successfully overturned miscarriages of justice. His running quarrel with Rousseau frames much of late Enlightenment political philosophy. He returned to Paris in 1778, was treated as a returning hero, and died there at eighty-three.
Key facts
- Nationality
- French
- Era
- Modern
- Movements
- Enlightenment
Selected quotes
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“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.”
Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer. -
“It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”
Il est dangereux d'avoir raison dans des choses où des hommes accrédités ont tort. -
Attributed to Voltaire:
“Common sense is not so common.”
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Attributed to Voltaire:
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.”
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“The best is the enemy of the good.”
Il est triste que souvent, pour être bon patriote, on soit l'ennemi du reste des hommes.
Voltaire by topic
Voltaire vs other philosophers
Frequently asked about Voltaire
- When did Voltaire live?
- Voltaire was born in 1694 and died in 1778.
- Where was Voltaire from?
- Voltaire was a French philosopher of the Modern era.
- What philosophical movements is Voltaire associated with?
- Voltaire was associated with Enlightenment.
- What was Voltaire known for?
- Francois-Marie Arouet, known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit and his advocacy of civil liberties.
- How many quotes are attributed to Voltaire?
- There are 50 attributed quotations from Voltaire in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.
Quotes that are not actually from Voltaire
These lines are widely circulated as Voltaire, but they do not appear in Voltaire's works. Each entry below identifies the actual source.
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“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
This line was written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall in her 1906 book The Friends of Voltaire, where she used it as a one-sentence summary of Voltaire's attitude toward freedom of speech. Hall later confirmed in correspondence that the words were her own and not a quotation. Despite this, the line continues to be cited as a direct Voltaire quotation in countless books and speeches.
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“Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Source: "Nowadays what isn't worth saying is sung" ( Aujourd'hui ce qui ne vaut pas la peine d'être dit, on le chante ) — Pierre de Beaumarchais , Le Barbier de Séville (1775), act I, scene II. | In George Bernard Shaw 's Man and Superman , act II, there is the following dialogue: TANNER: Let me rem
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“Business is the salt of life.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: This is a proverb which can be found in Robert Codrington's "Youth's Behaviour, Second Part" (1672) and in Thomas Fuller's "Gnomologia" (1732)
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“Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Croyez ceux qui cherchent la vérité, doutez de ceux qui la trouvent; doutez de tout, mais ne doutez pas de vous-même" — André Gide , Ainsi soit-il; ou, Les Jeux sont faits (1952), page 174.
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“Defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Garantissez-moi de mes amis, écrivait Gourville proscrit et fugitif, je saurai me défendre de mes ennemis. ("Defend me from my friends," wrote Gourville, exile and fugitive, "I can defend myself from my enemies.") — Gabriel Sénac de Meilhan , Considérations sur l'esprit et les moeurs (1788): "De L'A
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“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: According to The Veterinarian (Monthly Journal of Veterinary Science) for 1851, edited by Mr. Percivall, this is Ben Jonson 's "satirical definition of physic".
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“God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Creator — A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh." — H.L. Mencken , A Book of Burlesques (1920), p. 203. and A Mencken Chrestomathy (1949), Ch. 30
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“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Il est encore plus facile de juger de l'esprit d'un homme par ses questions que par ses réponses. (It is easier to judge the mind of a man by his questions rather than his answers) — Pierre-Marc-Gaston, duc de Lévis (1764-1830), Maximes et réflexions sur différents sujets de morale et de politique (
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“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Stanisław Jerzy Lec , More Unkempt Thoughts [ Myśli nieuczesane nowe ] (1964)
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“Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Rien n'est plus contraire à la religion et au clergé qu'une tête sensée et raisonnable. — Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach , Théologie portative, ou Dictionnaire abrégé de la religion chrétienne (1768): Folie
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“To determine the true rulers of any society, all you must do is ask yourself this question: Who is it that I am not permitted to criticize?”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Kevin Strom , "All America Must Know the Terror That is Upon Us" (1993) | Variant: "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize. | Commonly repeated by far-right politicians. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
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“One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: As quoted in Hefley What's so great about the Bible (1969), p. 30 | Variant: "Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!" George Sweeting Living in a Dying World (1972), p. 59 | Related: "...only 50 years after his death the Geneva Bible Society used his press and house to produce stack
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“France is a nation with one religion and many sauces; England is a nation with many religions and only one sauce.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: Actual source is Louis Eustache Ude (1829) The French Cook; A System of Fashionable and Economical Cookery, Adapted to the use of English Families (10th edition) p. xli (London : John Ebers) It is very remarkable, that in France, where there is but one religion, the sauces are infinitely varied, whi
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“God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.”
For a discussion of this quotation, which is uncertain in origin but was quoted long before Voltaire, see the following: [13] [ dead link ]
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“Related: "...only 50 years after his death the Geneva Bible Society used his press and house to produce stacks of Bibles."”
Geisler, Norman L. and Nix, William E., A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago, Moody Press, 1968), p. 123-124. See also McDowell The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict (1999).
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“Actual source is Louis Eustache Ude (1829) The French Cook; A System of Fashionable and Economical Cookery, Adapted to the use of English Families (10th edition) p. xli (London : John Ebers)”
It is very remarkable, that in France, where there is but one religion, the sauces are infinitely varied, whilst in England, where the different sects are innumerable, there is, we may say, but one single sauce. Melted butter, in English cookery, plays nearly the same part as the Lord Mayor's coach at civic ceremonies, calomel in modern medicine, or silver forks in the fashionable novels. Melted butter and anchovies, melted butter and capers, melted butter and parsley, melted butter and eggs, and melted butter for ever: this is a sample of the national cookery of this country.
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“Related quotes and attributions:”
Voltaire: If there were only one religion in England... quote above Giuseppe Baretti (1768) An Account of the Manners and Customs of Italy Vol. II p. 316 (London : T. Davies ; L. Davis & C. Raymer) I once heard a Frenchman swear that he hated the English, parce qu'ils versent du beurre fondu sur leur veau rôti . Giuseppe Baretti (1777) Discours sur Shakespeare et sur monsieur de Voltaire p. 39 (London; Paris : J. Nourse; Durand neveu) N'a-t-il [sc. Voltaire] pas dit dans ses Ouvrages qu' en Angleterre il n'y a pas d'hypocrites d'aucune espèce , et qu' on verse du beurre fondu sur le Roast-Beef ? Elizabeth, Princess Berkeley (1826) Memoirs of the Margravine of Anspach, Formerly Lady Craven…
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“Giuseppe Baretti (1768) An Account of the Manners and Customs of Italy Vol. II p. 316 (London : T. Davies ; L. Davis & C. Raymer)”
I once heard a Frenchman swear that he hated the English, parce qu'ils versent du beurre fondu sur leur veau rôti .
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“Giuseppe Baretti (1777) Discours sur Shakespeare et sur monsieur de Voltaire p. 39 (London; Paris : J. Nourse; Durand neveu)”
N'a-t-il [sc. Voltaire] pas dit dans ses Ouvrages qu' en Angleterre il n'y a pas d'hypocrites d'aucune espèce , et qu' on verse du beurre fondu sur le Roast-Beef ?
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“L'étymologie est une science où les voyelles ne font rien et les consonnes fort peu de chose.”
Etymology is a science in which vowels signify nothing at all, and consonants very little. Investigations of the comment include: Jan Noordegraaf (1997) "Multatuli, Voltaire en de etymologie" in Voorlopig verleden. Taalkundige plaatsbepalingen 1797-1960 (Münster: Nodus Publikationen) pp. 212-214 ( ISBN 3-89323-276-1 ). John Considine (January 2009) "“Les voyelles ne font rien, et les consonnes fort peu de chose”: On the history of Voltaire’s supposed comment on etymology" Historiographia Linguistica Volume 36, Issue 1, pp. 181-189; doi : 10.1075/hl.36.1.19con Garson O'Toole (25 March 2019) "In Etymology Vowels Count for Nothing and Consonants for Very Little" Quote Investigator From these,… (Disputed.)
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“Investigations of the comment include:”
Jan Noordegraaf (1997) "Multatuli, Voltaire en de etymologie" in Voorlopig verleden. Taalkundige plaatsbepalingen 1797-1960 (Münster: Nodus Publikationen) pp. 212-214 ( ISBN 3-89323-276-1 ). John Considine (January 2009) "“Les voyelles ne font rien, et les consonnes fort peu de chose”: On the history of Voltaire’s supposed comment on etymology" Historiographia Linguistica Volume 36, Issue 1, pp. 181-189; doi : 10.1075/hl.36.1.19con Garson O'Toole (25 March 2019) "In Etymology Vowels Count for Nothing and Consonants for Very Little" Quote Investigator (Disputed.)
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“From these, the earliest version found is already attributed to Voltaire: August Wilhelm von Schlegel (Part 1) of "Review of 'Altdeutsche Wälder' vol.1 by the Grimm brothers (Cassel 1813)" (1815) Heidelberger Jahrbücher der Literatur no. 46 pp. 734-5”
Mit solchen Allgemeinsätzen kann man Alles erkünsteln, und macht am Ende die Etymologie zu einer Wissenschaft, wobei, wie Voltaire sagt, die Vokale für gar nichts, die Konsonanten für wenig gerechnet werden. With such generalities one can artificialize everything, and in the end turn etymology into a science in which, as Voltaire says, the vowels are reckoned for nothing, the consonants for little. (Disputed.)
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“The earliest French version has singular voyelle / consonne : Anonymous (October 1833) "Art. VII.-Grimm's Deutche Grammatik . Gottingen. 1822-1831. 3 vols" , The Quarterly Review (John Murray, London) volume 50 p. 169:”
It is in works of this nature that Germany is pre-eminent among the European nations; and it is long since those who are interested in philological researches have made a more valuable acquisition, or one more fit to wipe out from their favourite study the reproach which has been somewhat speciously cast on it, that it is a science ‘où la voyelle ne fait rien, et la consonne fort peu de chose.’ (Disputed.)
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“Friedrich Max Müller ascribes the same French to Voltaire in October 1851: "Review of Franz Bopp, Comparative Grammar of the Sanskrit, Zend, Greek, Latin, Lithuanian, Gothic, German, and Sclavonic Languages , transl. by Edward Backhouse Eastwick" Edinburgh Review v. 94, no. CXCII p. 298”
Müller gives the plural voyelles / consonnes version in 1864 "Lecture VI: On the Principles of Etymology" Lectures on the Science of Language; Second Series (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green) p.238 Leonard Bloomfield (1933) Language (New York: Henry Holt) cites Muller 1864. ( s.1.3 p.6 and Notes p.511 ) (Disputed.)
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“Mit solchen Allgemeinsätzen kann man Alles erkünsteln, und macht am Ende die Etymologie zu einer Wissenschaft, wobei, wie Voltaire sagt, die Vokale für gar nichts, die Konsonanten für wenig gerechnet werden.”
With such generalities one can artificialize everything, and in the end turn etymology into a science in which, as Voltaire says, the vowels are reckoned for nothing, the consonants for little. (Disputed.)
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“Les médecins administrent des médicaments dont ils savent très peu, à des malades dont ils savent moins, pour guérir des maladies dont ils ne savent rien.”
Doctors are men who prescribe medicine of which they know little, to human beings of whom they know less, to cure diseases of which they know nothing. Note: This attribution to Voltaire appears in Strauss' Familiar Medical Quotations (1968), p. 394, and in publications as early as 1956 [12] ; the quotation in French does not, however, appear to be original, and is probably a relatively modern invention, only quoted in recent (21st century) published works, which attribute it to "Voltaire" without citing any source. (Disputed.)
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“I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker.”
As attributed in More Random Walks in Science : An Anthology (1982) by Robert L. Weber, p. 65 (Disputed.)
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“L'adjectif est l'ennemi du substantif.”
Translation: The adjective is the enemy of the substantive. Variants: The adjective is the enemy of the noun. Quote attributed in Arthur Schopenhauer (translated by Mrs Rudolf Dircks), Essays of Schopenhauer (2004), Kessinger Publishing, p. 31 (Disputed.)
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“Variants: The adjective is the enemy of the noun.”
Quote attributed in Arthur Schopenhauer (translated by Mrs Rudolf Dircks), Essays of Schopenhauer (2004), Kessinger Publishing, p. 31 (Disputed.)
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“The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.”
Attributed to Voltaire in Likharev, K.K. (2021). On Government and Politics. In: Likharev, K.K. (eds) Essential Quotes for Scientists and Engineers. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63332-5_18 , with a footnote stating "As quoted, without a date, by Laurence J. Peter in 1977." Also quoted as "The ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination." (Disputed.)