Voltaire Quotes Blame Norms, Stir Storms
Voltaire quotes come from a prominent figure of the Enlightenment period, and support natural law, civil liberties, and reason above all.
Voltaire, born Francois-Marie Arouet, made a name for himself by challenging the doctrines of organized religion (particularly the Catholic Church) and French conventionalisms.
En-light-enment and Oppression
Even before the age of ten, Voltaire was recognized as gifted with words and verses. Throughout his conventional and self education, he learned fluent French, Latin, Greek, Italian, and Spanish.
To satisfy his domineering father, Voltaire studied law and masqueraded as a lawyer's assistant. All the while, however, his absorption proved to be with writing. His early poetry was written under cover of an acceptable career.
His father also managed to foil Voltaire's first attempt at marriage. The elopement was interrupted by an official document.
Eventually breaking away from his family, Francois-Marie is believed to have chosen the name Voltaire to convey his audacious nature.
Always in Trouble
Quotes from Voltaire make it obvious that he wasn't one to tiptoe, but rather to trample.
He was not an atheist, but rather, a deist. He believed in a supreme being, but condemned structured religion. He refused to accept the Church, even on his death bed. He needed no faith to believe. He looked to nature, and saw that reason pointed toward a master creator.
Voltaire's views were so controversial (during a very conservative time in history), that he found himself jailed at 18, and eventually exiled from France. Burnings of his books and pamphlets were common in Europe, often with Voltaire in the audience, hiding, and even denouncing the material himself. Upon release of his works, he remained near borders, like that of Switzerland, in case of threats on his life.
Love Him or Hate Him...
a Voltaire famous quote will likely remain
infamous. A quote by Voltaire
delivers wit, wisdom, and a dose of sarcasm that will never grow old.
Voltaire Quick Facts
Born: November 21, 1694
Died: May 30, 1778
Nationality: French
Education: Abbe de Chateauneuf (Voltaire's godfather) through age 9, Louis le Grand School through age 17, then study of law in Caen and Hague (with de Caumartin, marquis de Saint-Ange, and Maitre Alain)
Occupation: Writer, poet, essayist, novelist, pamphleteer, historian, philosopher
Interests/Hobbies: Natural science, historyVoltaire - More Info
Wikipedia
The Facts Index - Voltaire
Positive Atheism - Voltaire
Your Top Ten Voltaire Quotes:
"Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable." - Voltaire
"Judge of a man by his questions rather than by his answers." - Voltaire
"Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause." - Voltaire
"Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination." - Voltaire
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." - Voltaire
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." - Voltaire
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire
"I disapprove of what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
"Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills." - Voltaire