Woe to the makers of literal translations, who by rendering every word weaken the meaning! It is indeed by so doing that we can say the letter kills and the spirit gives life. — Voltaire Copy Share Image
In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense. — Voltaire Copy Share
Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked. — Voltaire Copy Share
It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude. — Voltaire Copy Share
Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion. — Voltaire Copy Share
Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion… — Voltaire Copy Share
Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them — Voltaire Copy Share
When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not? — Voltaire Copy Share
Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively. — Voltaire Copy Share
God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. — Voltaire Copy Share
Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life — Voltaire Copy Share
Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts. — Voltaire Copy Share
