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Quotes by Voltaire

Voltaire

Often the prudent far from making their destinies succumb to them.

Voltaire

I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left.

Voltaire

Whoever serves his country well has no need of ancestors.

Voltaire

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

Voltaire

Ask a toad what is beauty? ... a female with two great round eyes coming out of her little head a large flat mouth a yellow belly and a brown back.

Voltaire

The first step my son which one makes in the world is the one on which depends the rest of our days.

Voltaire

All the known world excepting only savage nations is governed by books.

Voltaire

The secret of boring people lies in telling them everything.

Voltaire

Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life.

Voltaire

If there had been a censorship of the press in Rome we should have had today neither Horace nor Juvenal nor the philosophical writings of Cicero.

Voltaire

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.

Voltaire

The world embarrasses me and I cannot dream That this watch exists and has no watchmaker.

Voltaire

Fear succeeds crime - it is its punishment.

Voltaire

Doubt is not a pleasant state but certainty is a ridiculous one.

Voltaire

My prayer to God is a very short one Oh Lord make my enemies ridiculous! God has granted it.

Voltaire

England has forty-two religions and only two sauces.

Voltaire

Froth at the top dregs at bottom but the middle excellent.

Voltaire

The superfluous is very necessary.

Voltaire

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes the greater is their power to harm us.

Voltaire

Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?

Voltaire