Voltaire
Born: 11-20-1694
Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet in 1694, was a prolific French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit and advocacy for civil liberties. His works often criticized the established church and government, championing freedom of speech and religion. "Candide," his most famous work, satirizes optimism and societal norms. Voltaire's influence on modern thought remains significant, embodying the principles of reason and critical inquiry.
Book summaries for books written by Voltaire
Quotes
All is for the best, in the best of all possible worlds.
We must cultivate our garden.
It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end.
Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.
I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life.
Work banishes those three great evils: boredom, vice, and poverty.
The human race will come to an end because it deserves it.
I have only ever been happy when I was in love.
We must take care of our garden.
It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.
We are all children of the Earth, and the Earth is our mother.
Let us make the best of our time; it is all we have.