Quotes by Voltaire

Divorce is probably of nearly the same date as marriage. I believe, however, that marriage is some weeks the more ancient.

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.

It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.

The superfluous, a very necessary thing.

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another.

He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise.

He who is not just is severe, he who is not wise is sad.

When men do not have healthy notions of the Divinity, false ideas supplant them, just as in bad times one uses counterfeit money when there is no good money.

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.

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

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.

Time, which alone makes the reputation of men, ends by making their defects respectable.

It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.

Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.

It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.

“To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid - one must also be polite.”

“If we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things.”

“Love truth, but pardon error.”

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

“There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.”