Voltaire Quotes

Do well and you will have no need for ancestors.
Voltaire

He shines in the second rank, who is eclipsed in the first.
Voltaire

Second, Rank, Shines

In every author let us distinguish the man from his works.
Voltaire

It is the flash which appears, the thunderbolt will follow.
Voltaire

Follow, Flash, Appears

Nature has always had more force than education.
Voltaire

Education, Nature, Force

Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.
Voltaire

Time, Perfection, Hand

Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die.
Voltaire

The ancients recommended us to sacrifice to the Graces, but Milton sacrificed to the Devil.
Voltaire

Sacrifice, Devil, Sacrificed

The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
Voltaire

Great, May, Cannot

The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reason.
Voltaire

Religion, Power, Lost

To believe in God is impossible not to believe in Him is absurd.
Voltaire

God, Him, Impossible

We cannot always oblige; but we can always speak obligingly.
Voltaire

Cannot, Speak, Oblige

We cannot wish for that we know not.
Voltaire

What a heavy burden is a name that has become too famous.
Voltaire

Famous, Become, Name

Whoever serves his country well has no need of ancestors.
Voltaire

Country, Whoever, Ancestors

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

Life, Word, Spirit

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Biography

Nationality: French

Type: Writer

Born: November 21, 1694

Died: May 30, 1778

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