It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
[Il est dangereux d’avoir raison dans des choses où des hommes accrédités ont tort.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
“Catalogue pour la plupart des écrivains français qui ont paru dans Le Siècle de Louis XIV, pour servir à l’histoire littéraire de ce temps” (1752)
Alt trans:
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong."
Quotations by:
Voltaire
The superstitious man is to the knave, what the slave is to the tyrant; nay more — the superstitious man is governed by the fanatic, and becomes a fanatic himself.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
“Superstition,” Philosophical Dictionary (1764) [tr. Fleming (1901)]
(Source)
Alt. trans.: "The superstitious man is to the rascal what the slave is to the tyrant." [tr. Besterman (1971)]
Be it observed, that the most superstitious times have always been those of the most horrible crimes.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
“Superstition,” sec. 4, Philosophical Dictionary (1764) [tr. Besterman (1971)]
(Source)
The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Attributed)
Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Attributed)
Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Attributed)
Life is thick sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.
[La vie est hérissée d’épines, & je ne sçais d’autre remède, que de passer vite à travers ces broussailles. C’est donner de la consistance aux maux, que de trop s’y arrêter.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Attributed)
(Source)
(Source (French)). Quoted in Louis Mayeul Chaudon, ed., Historical and Critical Memoirs of the Life and Writings of M. de Voltaire [Mémoires Pour Servir à L’Histoire de M. de Voltaire], Part 2, "Anecdotes Sur Voltaire (1785, tr. 1786). The English translation is also quoted in The Lady's Magazine, "Anecdotes of Voltaire" (Jul 1786).Voltaire used a similar metaphor in a 1769 letter ("La vie est hérissée de ces épines").
More discussion: Life Is Thick Sown with Thorns, and I Know No Other Remedy Than To Pass Quickly Through Them – Quote Investigator.
The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Attributed)
God is a comic playing to an audience that’s afraid to laugh.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Misattributed)
Unverified. See Mencken.
Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Misattributed)
Actually, Pierre de Beaumarchais, Le Barbier de Séville (1775), I.ii, "Aujourd'hui ce qui ne vaut pas la peine d'être dit, on le chante" ["Nowadays what isn't worth saying is sung"]. Also, Joseph Addison, The Spectator (21 Mar 1711), who spoke of "an establish'd Rule, which is receiv'd as such to this Day, That nothing is capable of being well set to Musick, that is not Nonsense."
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Misattributed)
(Source)
The words are not found in any Voltaire and actually belong to historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall, writing as S. G. Tallentyre in The Friends of Voltaire (1906), describing an 1759 incident where Voltaire learned that Claude-Adrien Helvétius' book On the Mind [De l’esprit] had been burned (along with Voltaire's own "On Natural Law") after condemnation by the Paris Parliament and the Sorbonne.‘What a fuss about an omelette!’ he had exclaimed when he heard of the burning. How abominably unjust to persecute a man for such an airy trifle as that! ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’ was his attitude now.Hall later wrote to a friend that the actual words were her own and ought not to have had quotation marks.
Variations:More information here.
- I wholly disapprove of what you say -- and will defend to the death your right to say it.
- Monsieur l’Abbé, je déteste ce que vous écrivez, mais je donnerais ma vie pour que vous puissiez continuer à écrire.
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Misttributed)
Actually Pierre-Marc-Gaston, duc de Lévis (1764-1830): "Il est encore plus facile de juger de l'esprit d'un homme par ses questions que par ses réponses." [It is easier to judge the mind of a man by his questions rather than his answers] in Maximes et réflexions sur différents sujets de morale et de politique, Maxim 17 (1808)
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
(Spurious)
Frequently attributed in memes, but unsourced in any of his writings. More accurately attributed to Kevin Alfred Strom during a 1993 anti-semitic screed on a radio broadcast: "To determine the true rulers of any society, all you must do is ask yourself this question: Who is it that I am not permitted to criticize?" More discussion here.
In this country it is useful from time to time to kill one admiral in order to encourage the others.
[Dans ce pays-ci il est bon de tuer de tems en tems un Amiral pour encourager les autres.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Candide, ch. 23 (1759) [tr. Adams (1966)]
(Source)
As Candide witnesses the (real-life) 1757 execution of English Admiral John Byng, who withdrew his undermanned ships from a naval battle during the French invasion of Minorca at the beginning of the Seven Years War. Byng was scapegoated for poor condition of the Mediterranean fleet, and court martialed for "failing to do his utmost" in the battle, which carried an automatic death penalty. In real life, Voltaire had been one of the people who attempted to intervene on Byng's behalf. In the book, Candide is so appalled by the injustice, he refuses to touch ground on English soil.
The last few words ("pour encourager les autres") are frequently quoted on their own referring to any harsh punishment used as an example to incent those who follow.
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:In this country it is found requisite, now and then, to put an admiral to death, in order to encourage the others to fight.
[tr. Smollett (1759)]In this country it is found good, from time to time, to kill one Admiral to encourage the others.
[Source (1859)]In this country it is found requisite, now and then, to put one admiral to death, in order to spirit up the others.
[tr. Smollett/Thornton (1920)]In this country it is good to kill an Admiral from time to time to encourage the others.
[Modern Library ed. (1920)]In this country it is necessary, now and then, to put one admiral to death in order to inspire the others to fight.
[tr. Morley (1922)]In this country it is a good thing to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others.
[Random House ed. (1928)]In this country it’s good to kill an admiral now and then, to encourage the others.
[tr. Bair (1959)]In this country it is found requisite,now and then to kill an admiral, in order to encourage the others.
[tr. Cameron (1997)]In this country they think it's good to kill an Admiral from time to time, to encourage the others.
[tr. Gordon (1999)]
Prejudice is an opinion without judgment.
[Le préjugé est une opinion sans jugement.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, “Prejudices” (1764)
Morality is everywhere the same for all men, therefore it comes from God; sects differ, therefore they are the work of men.
[La morale est la même chez tous les hommes, donc elle vient de Dieu; le culte est différent, donc il est l’ouvrage des hommes.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, “Atheist,” (1764)
What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other’s folly — that is the first law of nature.
[Qu’est-ce que la tolérance? c’est l’apanage de l’humanité. Nous sommes tous pétris de faiblesses et d’erreurs; pardonnons-nous réciproquement nos sottises, c’est la première loi de la nature.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, “Tolerance” (1764)
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, “Tolerance” (1764)
Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.
[Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique, “Liberty of the Press” (1785-1789)
All philosophical sects have run aground on the reef of moral and physical ill. It only remains for us to confess that God, having acted for the best, had not been able to do better.
[Toutes les sectes des philosophes ont échoué contre l’écueil du mal physique et moral. Il ne reste que d’avouer que Dieu ayant agi pour le mieux n’a pu agir mieux.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Dictionnaire philosophique, “Power, Omnipotence” (1785-1789)
All styles are good, except the tiresome kind.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
L’Enfant prodigue, Preface (1736)
Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.
[En effet, l’histoire n’est que le tableau des crimes et des malheurs.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
L’Ingénu, ch.10 (1767)
We use ideas merely to justify our evil, and speech merely to conceal our ideas.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Le Chapon et al Poularde, ch. 14 (1766)
A witty saying proves nothing.
[Un bon mot ne prouve rien.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Le dîner du comte de Boulainvilliers, “Deuxième Entretien” (1767)
Full text.
It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.
[Il est bien malaisé (puisqu’il faut enfin m’expliquer) d’ôter à des insensés des chaînes qu’ils révèrent.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Le dîner du comte de Boulainvilliers, “Troisième Entretien” (1767)
If one religion only were allowed in England, the Government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats; but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Lettres philosophiques (1734)
Clever tyrants are never punished.
[Les habiles tyrans ne sont jamais punis.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Mérope, act V, sc. 5 (1743)
If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.
[Si Dieu nous a fait à son image, nous le lui avons bien rendu.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Notebooks (c.1735-c.1750)
Alt. trans. "If God created us in his own image we have more than reciprocated."
We all look for happiness, but without knowing where to find it: like drunkards who look for their house, knowing dimly that they have one.
[Nous cherchons tous le bonheur, mais sans savoir où, comme les ivrognes qui cherchent leur maison, sachant confusément qu’ils en ont une.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Notebooks, “Leningrad Notebook” (c.1735-c.1750)
The same notebook has a variation on this: Les hommes qui cherchent le bonheur sont comme des ivrognes qui ne peuvent trouver leur maison, mais qui savent qu'ils en ont une. [Men who look for happiness are like drunkards who cannot find their house but know that they have one.]
Virtue debases itself in justifying itself.
[La vertu s’avilit à se justifier.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Oedipe, act II, sc. iv (1718)
Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary [Dictionnaire Philosophique], “Liberty of the Press” (1764)
(Source)
Luxury has been railed at for two thousand years, in verse and in prose, and it has always been loved.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary [Dictionnaire philosophique], “Luxury [Le Luxe],” sec. 2 (1764)Alt trans.:
- "Luxury has been declaimed against for the space of two thousand years, both in verse and prose; and yet it has been always liked." [tr. Fleming (1905)]
- "For these two thousand years past, luxury has been declaimed against, both in verse and prose: but still mankind has always delighted in it." [Source (1835)]
The man who, in a fit of melancholy, kills himself today may have wished to live had he waited a week.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Cato” (1764)
Our wretched species is so made that those who walk the beaten path always throw stones at those who teach a new path.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Literature and Writers” (1764) [tr. Besterman (1971)]
What is madness? To have erroneous perceptions and to reason correctly from them.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Madness” (1764)
(Source)
This is the character of truth: it is of all time, it is for all men, it has only to show itself to be recognized, and one cannot argue against it. A long dispute means that both parties are wrong.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Sect” (1764) [tr. Gay (1962)]
(Source)
I fear that in this world one must be either hammer or anvil.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Tyranny” (1764) [tr. Gay (1962)]
(Source)
Alt. trans.: "In this world we run the risk of having to choose between being either the anvil or the hammer." [Baskin (1961)]
If I had to choose, I should detest the tyranny of one man less than that of many. A despot always has his good moments; an assembly of despots never.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Philosophical Dictionary, “Tyranny” (1764) [tr. Gay (1962)]
(Source)
Money is always to be found when men are to be sent to the frontiers to be destroyed: when the object is to preserve them, it is no longer so.
[On en trouve [l’argent] toujours quand il s’agit d’aller faire tuer des hommes sur la frontière: il n’y en a plus quand il faut les sauver.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Questions on the Encyclopedia [Questions sur l’Encyclopédie], “Charity [Charité]” (1770) [tr. Fleming]
(Source)
Referring to the scandalous conditions at the Hôtel Dieu charity hospital in Paris.
(Source (French)). Subsequently folded into later editions of the Philosophical Dictionary [Dictionnaire Philosophique].
Nothing is so common as to imitate one’s enemies, and to use their weapons.
[Rien n’est si ordinaire que d’imiter ses ennemis, et d’employer leurs armes.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Questions sur l’Encyclopédie, “Oracles” (1770-1774)
The Eternal has his designs from all eternity. If prayer is in accord with his immutable wishes, it is quite useless to ask of him what he has resolved to do. If one prays to him to do the contrary of what he has resolved, it is praying that he be weak, frivolous, inconstant; it is believing that he is thus, it is to mock him. Either you ask him a just thing, in which case he must do it, the thing being done without your praying to him for it, and so to entreat him is then to distrust him; or the thing is unjust, and then you insult him. You are worthy or unworthy of the grace you implore: if worthy, he knows it better than you; if unworthy, you commit another crime by requesting what is undeserved.
In a word, we only pray to God because we have made him in our image. We treat him like a pasha, like a sultan whom one may provoke or appease.
[L’Éternel a ses desseins de toute éternité. Si la prière est d’accord avec ses volontés immuables, il est très inutile de lui demander ce qu’il a résolu de faire. Si on le prie de faire le contraire de ce qu’il a résolu, c’est le prier d’être faible, léger, inconstant; c’est croire qu’il soit tel, c’est se moquer de lui. Ou vous lui demandez une chose juste; en ce cas il la doit, et elle se fera sans qu’on l’en prie; c’est même se défier de lui que lui faire instance ou la chose est injuste, et alors on l’outrage. Vous êtes digne ou indigne de la grâce que vous implorez: si digne, il le sait mieux que vous; si indigne, on commet un crime de plus en demandant ce qu’on ne mérite pas.
En un mot, nous ne faisons des prières à Dieu que parce que nous l’avons fait à notre image. Nous le traitons comme un bacha, comme un sultan qu’on peut irriter ou apaiser.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Questions sur l’Encyclopédie, “Prayers,” (1770-1774)
It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.
[Il est défendu de tuer; tout meurtrier est puni, à moins qu’il n’ait tué en grande compagnie, et au son des trompettes.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Questions sur l’Encyclopédie, “Rights” (1771)
Formerly there were those who said: You believe things that are incomprehensible, inconsistent, impossible because we have commanded you to believe them; go then and do what is unjust because we command it. Such people show admirable reasoning. Truly, whoever is able to make you absurd is able to make you unjust. If the God-given understanding of your mind does not resist a demand to believe what is impossible, then you will not resist a demand to do wrong to that God-given sense of justice in your heart. As soon as one faculty of your soul has been dominated, other faculties will follow as well. And from this derives all those crimes of religion which have overrun the world.
[Il y a eu des gens qui ont dit autrefois: Vous croyez des choses incompréhensibles, contradictoires, impossibles, parce que nous vous l’avons ordonné; faites donc des choses injustes parce que nous vous l’ordonnons. Ces gens-là raisonnaient à merveille. Certainement qui est en droit de vous rendre absurde est en droit de vous rendre injuste. Si vous n’opposez point aux ordres de croire l’impossible l’intelligence que Dieu a mise dans votre esprit, vous ne devez point opposer aux ordres de malfaire la justice que Dieu a mise dans votre coeur. Une faculté de votre âme étant une fois tyrannisée, toutes les autres facultés doivent l’être également. Et c’est là ce qui a produit tous les crimes religieux dont la terre a été inondée.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Questions sur les miracles (1765)
(Source)
Commonly translated: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Sept discours en vers sur l’homme (1738)
Love truth, but pardon error.
[Aime la vérité, mais pardonne à l’erreur.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Sept Discours en Vers sur l’Homme, “Deuxième discours: de la liberté” (1738)
The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
[Le secret d’ennuyer est celui de tout dire.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Sept Discours en Vers sur l’Homme, “Sixième discours: sur la nature de l’homme” (1738)
Illusion is the first of all pleasures.
[L’illusion est le premier plaisir.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
The Maid of Orleans [La Pucelle d’Orléans] (1756 ed.)
(Source)
Sometimes misattributed to Oscar Wilde. This is part of a canto added from another Voltaire piece, probably by a publisher, to the end of the 1756 edition of Voltaire's poem, as noted in the "Additional Notes" included with 19th Century editions of the work. It reads in part:O gift from heaven! tender love! sweet desire!
We are still happy with your image:
Illusion is the first of all pleasures.
[O don du ciel! tendre amour! doux désir!
On est encore heureux par votre image;
L'illusion est le premier plaisir.]
The canto was not included the Voltaire-authorized 1762 edition. The English translation of the quoted line goes back at least to 1881.
More information: Illusion.
It is better to risk sparing a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.
[Il vaut mieux hasarder de sauver un coupable que de condamner un innocent.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Zadig (1747)
The best is the enemy of the good.
[Il meglio, è l’inimico del bene.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter (1743-06-18) to the Duc de Richelieu
(Source)
A signature phrase of Voltaire's, attributed (by him) to a wise or sage Italian. His French translation is "Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien." Other mentions include an entry on "Art Dramatique" in his Philosophical Dictionary (1764), and the poem "La Bégueule" (1772).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one.
[Le doute n’est pas une état bien agréable, mais l’assurance est un état ridicule.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter (1770-11-28) to Frederick William, Prince of Prussia [tr. Tallentyre (1919)]
(Source)
The French is sometimes given (e.g.) as "Le doute n'est pas une condition agréable, mais la certitude est absurde."
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:Doubt is not a very agreeable state, but certainty is a ridiculous one.
[tr. Robertson (1922)]Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
[E.g. (1994)]Doubt is not an agreeable condition, but certainty is an absurd one.
[E.g.]
Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours.
[Les opinions ont plus causé de maux sur ce petit globe que la peste et les tremblements de terre.]
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to Élie Bertrand (5 Jan 1759)
You are perfectly right, Sire. A wise and courageous prince, with money, troops, and laws, can perfectly well govern men without the aid of religion, which was made only to deceive them; but the stupid people would soon make one for themselves, and as long as there are fools and rascals there will be religions.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to Frederick II (5 Jan 1767)
I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom.
[J’aime fort la vérité, mais je n’aime point du tout le martyre.]Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to Jean le Rond d’Alembert (8 Feb 1776)
I have never made but one prayer to God, and very short one: “O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.” And God granted it.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to M. Damilaville (16 May 1767)
“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” I am rarely satisfied with my lines, but I own that I have a father’s tenderness for that one.
Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to M. Saurin (10 Nov 1770)