François-Marie Arouet, known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church, as well as his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. These Voltaire quotes on freedom of speech, religion, the government will motivate you in life.
Best Voltaire Quotes
- “If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize.” ~ Voltaire
- “If there’s life on other planets, then the earth is the Universe’s insane asylum.” ~ Voltaire
- “The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.” ~ Voltaire
- “So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.” ~ Voltaire
- “It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” ~ Voltaire
- “Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.” ~ Voltaire
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“The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood.” ~ Voltaire
- “The mirror is a worthless invention. The only way to truly see yourself is in the reflection of someone else’s eyes.” ~ Voltaire
- “The right to free speech is more important than the content of the speech.” ~ Voltaire
- “The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.” ~ Voltaire
- “In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another.” ~ Voltaire
- “Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others, to persecute those who do reason.” ~ Voltaire
- “It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.” ~ Voltaire
- “Give me the patience for the small things of life, courage for the great trials of life. Help me to do my best each day and then go to sleep knowing God is awake.” ~ Voltaire
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“The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor.” ~ Voltaire
- “The more a man knows, the less he talks.” ~ Voltaire
- “Dare to think for yourself.” ~ Voltaire
- “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” ~ Voltaire
- “To really enjoy pleasures, you must know how to leave them.” ~ Voltaire
- “Doctors put drugs of which they know little into bodies of which they know less for diseases of which they know nothing at all.” ~ Voltaire
- “Common sense is not so common.” ~ Voltaire
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“There can be no happiness without good health” ~ Voltaire
- “Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value – zero.” ~ Voltaire
- “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” ~ Voltaire
- “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it.” ~ Voltaire
- “All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women.” ~ Voltaire
- “Every man can educate himself. It’s shameful to put one’s mind into the hands of those whom you wouldn’t entrust with your money. Dare to think for yourself.” ~ Voltaire
- “Democracy is just a filler for textbooks! Do you actually believe that public opinion influences the government?” ~ Voltaire, Voltaire quotes on government
- “A long dispute means both parties are wrong.” ~ Voltaire
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“The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity.” ~ Voltaire
- “The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.” ~ Voltaire
- “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us” ~ Voltaire
- “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” ~ Voltaire
- “Dont think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” ~ Voltaire
- “Beware of the words “internal security,” for they are the eternal cry of the oppressor.” ~ Voltaire
- “What is history? The lie that everyone agrees on.” ~ Voltaire
- “Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.” ~ Voltaire
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“Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” ~ Voltaire
- “Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world.” ~ Voltaire, Voltaire quotes on religion
- “If one does not reflect, one thinks oneself master of everything; but when one does reflect, one realizes that one is master of nothing.” ~ Voltaire
- “Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.” ~ Voltaire
- “I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker.” ~ Voltaire
- “It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.” ~ Voltaire
- “We are all guilty of the good we did not do” ~ Voltaire
- “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” ~ Voltaire
