Voltaire Quotes, Character Quotes, Thinking Quotes

Our character is composed of our ideas and our feelings: and, since it has been proved that we give ourselves neither feelings nor ideas, our character does not depend on us. If it did depend on us, there is nobody who would not be perfect. If one does not reflect, one thinks oneself master of everything; but when one does reflect, one realizes that one is master of nothing

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Character Quotes , Thinking Quotes

How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of an oak which he has planted.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Dad Quotes , Children Quotes

I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Real Quotes , Book Quotes

Hope should no more be a virtue than fear; we fear and we hope, according to what is promised or threatened us.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Hope Quotes , Virtue Quotes

The Bible. That is what fools have written, what imbeciles commend, what rogues teach and young children are made to learn by heart.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Children Quotes , Heart Quotes

The only way to see the value of a play is to see it acted.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Play Quotes , Theatre Quotes

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Drinking Quotes , Food Quotes

You must have the devil in you to succeed in the arts.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Art Quotes , Devil Quotes

One should always aim at being interesting, rather than exact.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Interesting Quotes , Should Quotes

Those who can be made to believe absurdities can be made to commit atrocities.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Believe Quotes , Atrocities Quotes

Los Padres have everything and the people have nothing; 'tis the masterpiece of reason and justice. For my part, I know nothing so divine as Los Padres who make war on Kings of Spain and Portugal and in Europe act as their confessors; who here kill Spaniards and at Madrid send them to Heaven.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Kings Quotes , War Quotes

This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , History Quotes , Empires Quotes

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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Knowing Quotes , House Quotes

I die adoring God, loving my friends, not hating my enemies, and detesting superstition.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Friendship Quotes , Hate Quotes

We offer up prayers to god only because we have made him after our own image. We treat him like a pasha, or a sultan, who is capable of being exasperated and appeased.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Prayer Quotes , Philosophy Quotes

What is toleration? It is the prerogative of humanity. We are all steeped in weaknesses and errors: Let us forgive one another's follies, it is the first law of nature.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Errors Quotes , Law Quotes

A multitude of laws in a country is like a great number of physicians, a sign of weakness and malady.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Country Quotes , Law Quotes

A false science makes atheists, a true science prostrates men before the Deity

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Atheist Quotes , Men Quotes

He who can lead you to believe an absurdity can lead you to commit an atrocity.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Believe Quotes , Atrocities Quotes

The policy of man consists, at first, in endeavoring to arrive at a state equal to that of animals, whom nature has furnished with food, clothing, and shelter.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Voltaire Quotes , Animal Quotes , Men Quotes