The more estimable the offender, the greater the torment. Voltaire More Quotes by Voltaire More Quotes From Voltaire What will the preachers say? .. to teach men not to persecute men: for, while a few sanctimonious humbugs are burning a few fanatics, the earth opens and swallows up all alike. Voltaire burningearthmen Inspiration: A peculiar effect of divine flatulence emitted by the Holy Spirit which hisses into the ears of a few chosen of God. Voltaire peculiarinspirationears We know that all the arts are brothers, that each of them illuminates another, and that a universal light results. Voltaire lightbrotherart Let us confess it: evil strides the world. Voltaire strideevilworld Those who think are excessively few; and those few do not set themselves to disturb the world. Voltaire worldthinking Every abuse ought to be reformed, unless the reform is more dangerous than the abuse itself. Voltaire abusedangerousreform Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes. Voltaire politicspoliticalearthquakes It is reported in the supplement of the council of Nicæan that the fathers, being very perplexed to know which were the cryphal or apocryphal books of the Old and New Testaments, put them all pell-mell on an altar, and the books to be rejected fell to the ground. It is a pity that this eloquent procedure has not survived. Voltaire atheismfatherbook Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." "Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense." "If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities. Voltaire christianmenbelieve Only your friends steal your books. Voltaire stealingbook What then do you call your soul? What idea have you of it? You cannot of yourselves, without revelation, admit the existence within you of anything but a power unknown to you of feeling and thinking. Voltaire powerideasthinking Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked. Voltaire fanaticismwickedmen Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel. Voltaire passionangelplay As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities. Voltaire evil-peopletruthbelieve I also know that we must cultivate our garden. For when man was put in the Garden of Eden, he was put there ut operaretur eum, to work; which proves that man was not born for rest. Voltaire gardenedenmen The man visited by ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities is an enthusiast; the man who supports his madness with murder is a fanatic. Voltaire dreammenreality Answer me, you who believe that animals are only machines. Has nature arranged for this animal to have all the machinery of feelings only in order for it not to have any at all? Voltaire animalorderbelieve Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference. Voltaire equalitybirthdaymen Faith consists in believing not what seems true, but what seems false to our understanding. Voltaire understandingfaithbelieve In this country [England] it is good to kill an admiral from time to time, to encourage the others. The reference is to Admiral John Byng, who was executed in 1757 for failing to prevent the French from taking Minorca. Voltaire failuretimecountry
