Writer · French · 1694 – 1778 · 169 quotes
Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
Voltaire
Writer · French · 1694 – 1778
Divorce is probably of nearly the same date as marriage. I believe, however, that marriage is some weeks the more ancient.
Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.
Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?
The ancients recommended us to sacrifice to the Graces, but Milton sacrificed to the Devil.
It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.
It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love.
All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women.
Men use thought only as authority for their injustice, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.
The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.
Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.
Nature has always had more force than education.
Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die.
The public is a ferocious beast; one must either chain it or flee from it.
Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.
He who is not just is severe, he who is not wise is sad.
When he to whom one speaks does not understand, and he who speaks himself does not understand, that is metaphysics.
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.
Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.
I hate women because they always know where things are.
Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare.
As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.
If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.
Our country is that spot to which our heart is bound.
Of all religions, the Christian should of course inspire the most tolerance, but until now Christians have been the most intolerant of all men.
We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.
Every one goes astray, but the least imprudent are they who repent the soonest.
To believe in God is impossible not to believe in Him is absurd.
In the case of news, we should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation.
We must cultivate our own garden. When man was put in the garden of Eden he was put there so that he should work, which proves that man was not born to rest.
There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.
One great use of words is to hide our thoughts.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Society therefore is an ancient as the world.
If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.
If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him.
In every author let us distinguish the man from his works.
Whoever serves his country well has no need of ancestors.
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes.
History should be written as philosophy.
The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice.
He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.
I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom.
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
