The discovery of what is true and the practice of that which is good are the two most important aims of philosophy. Voltaire More Quotes by Voltaire More Quotes From Voltaire It is ourselves alone that make our days lucky or unlucky. Away, then, with a vain prejudice, the invention of the priesthood, which has been transmitted by our ancestors to an ignorant people. Voltaire ignorant luck people The worthy administrators of justice are like a cat set to take care of a cheese, lest it should be gnawed by the mice. One bite of the cat does more damage to the cheese than twenty mice can do. Voltaire cat twenties justice Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst. Voltaire maintaining optimism optimistic A physician is an unfortunate gentleman who is every day required to perform a miracle; namely to reconcile health with intemperance. Voltaire gentleman health miracle Men use thought only as authority for their injustice, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts. Voltaire learning men knowledge It is not the answers you give, but the questions you ask. Voltaire answers motivational giving Verses which do not teach men new and moving truths do not deserve to be read. Voltaire poetry men moving Historians are gossips who tease the dead Voltaire gossip tease history Among the illusions which have invested our civilization is an absolute belief that the solutions to our problems must be a more determined application of rationally organized expertise... The reality is that our problems are largely the product of that application. Voltaire risk civilization reality A little evil is often necessary for obtaining a great good. Voltaire obtaining evil littles It is vain for the coward to flee; death follows close behind; it is only by defying it that the brave escape. Voltaire vain coward bravery What can we say with certainty? Voltaire certain certainty Let all the laws be clear, uniform and precise for interpreting laws is almost always to corrupt them. Voltaire uniforms clear law Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time. Voltaire goal time hands History is nothing but a pack of tricks that we play upon the dead. Voltaire tricks play history Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the blessings of peace, and where the arts florish, the inhabitants are devoured by envy, cares and anxieties, which are greater plagues than any expirienced in a town when it is under siege. Voltaire cities blessing art We admit, in geometry, not only infinite magnitudes, that is to say, magnitudes greater than any assignable magnitude, but infinite magnitudes infinitely greater, the one than the other. This astonishes our dimension of brains, which is only about six inches long, five broad, and six in depth, in the largest heads. Voltaire ontology brain long Let us read, and let us dance — these two amusements will never do any harm to the world. Voltaire dance reading two An ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination. Voltaire democracy form government If it's too silly to be said, it can always be sung. Voltaire ifs said silly
