Last Updated April 25th, 2018
This is the only collection authentic Voltaire quotes online that linked directly to his writings.In other words, you can actually see the quotations from his books in French.
In short, all the Voltaire quotes published here should be authentic and correct.
Except for the quotes in English, which have variant translation.
Some of the quotes in English language, I do not linked to any source.
It is because I do not consider those books which quoted them as reliable sources.
I only regard those quotations from his writings in French as authentic.
Beware: There is one popular quotation site which has Voltaire’s quotes in French, which are NOT correct!
It merely uses Google Translate to do the translating job.
So, never use its Voltaire French quotations!
Anyway, Voltaire whose real name is François-Marie Arouet.
Voltaire is his nom de plume.
One of this French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous book is “Philosophical Dictionary” or “Dictionnaire philosophique” (in French).
It is an encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764.
The content or articles are arranged in alphabetically order.
Many of the articles criticized the Roman Catholic Church and other institutions.
The first edition was called “”.
It had 344 pages and consisted of 73 articles. The later versions were expanded into two volumes, consisting of 120 articles.
Because of its sensitive and controversial content, the first editions were published anonymously.
This 18th century badass French writer was notorious for his biting wit, his criticism on the Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the French institutions.
Authentic Voltaire Quotes
Now check out these authentic Voltaire quotes taken from his stories, plays, letters and essays.
“For innocence is lessened by defence.” – Voltaire
“La vertu s’avilit à se justifier.” (French)
Another English Translation is:
“Virtue is degraded by justifying itself.” – Voltaire
(Oedipus By Voltaire, Translated And Adapted By Frank J. Morlock, Act II, Sc. IV)
“He who serves His country well requires not ancestry.” – Voltaire
“Qui sert bien son pays n’a pas besoin d’aïeux.” (French)
Another English translation is:
“He who serves his country needs no ancestors.” – Voltaire
(This quote in French is also found in: Mérope, Tragédie, Représentée Pour La Première Fois Par Les Comédiens Francais Ordinaires Du Roi, Le 20 Février 1743, Chez Duchesne, 1784, Acte I, Scène III; p.334)
“They only apply their minds to excuse their injustices; they only use words to cover up their thoughts.” – Voltaire
“Ils ne se servent de la pensée que pour autoriser leurs injustices, et n’emploient les paroles que pour déguiser leurs pensées.” (French)
(This quote in English is also found in: Comparative Criticism: Volume 20, Philosophical Dialogues, Edited by E. S. Shaffer, Cambridge University Press, 1998, Dialogue Between The Cock And The Hen By Voltaire, Translated By Haydn And Andrienne Mason; p. 187)
Another English translation is:
“Men use thought only to justify their wrongdoings, and speech only to conceal their thoughts.” – Voltaire
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Sixième, Philosophie Dialogues, Chez Furne, 1837, Dialogue St Entretiens Philosophiques, Dialogue XIV, Le Chapon Et La Poularde, 1763; p.646)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Vingt-Huitième, Dialogue Et Entretiens Philosophques, Chez Mme V H Perronneau, 1818, XIV, Le Chapon Et La Poularde, 1763; p.97)
“The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one on which depends the rest of our days.” – Voltaire
“Le premier pas, mon fils, que l’on fait dans le monde Est celui dont dépend le reste de nos jours.” (French)
Another English translation:
“…the first step we take in life, the rest of it must in a great measure depend.” – Voltaire
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Premier, Théatre, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, 1843, L’indiscret Comédie En Un Acte, Représentée Pour La Première Fois Le 1 Er Aout 1725, Scène I; p.129)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Oeuvres Poétiques, Première Partie, Leroi, 1835, L’indiscret Comédie En Un Acte 1725, Scène I; p.108)
“…remember that all the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books.” – Voltaire
“…songez que tout l’univers connu n’est gouverné que par des livres, excepté les nations sauvages.” (French)
(This quote in English is also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Huitieme, Dictionnaire Philosophique II, Romans-Facéties, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, 1870, LIVRES, Section Première; p.19)
“Faith consists in believing not what seems true, but what seems false to our understanding.” – Voltaire
“La foi consiste à croire, non ce qui semble vrai, mais ce qui semble faux à notre entendement.” (French)
(This quote in English is also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire Tome Septième, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Chez Th. Desoer, 1817, FoiI Ou Foy, Section Première ; p.1031)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Dix-Huitième, , Dictionnaire Philosophique, Hachette Et Cie, 1876, FoiI Ou Foy, Section Première; p.85)
“…how dangerous it is to be in the right in matters where men in power are in wrong.” – Voltaire
“…Il est dangereux d’avoir raison dans des choses où des hommes accrédités ont tort.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Œuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Huitième, Hachette Et Cie, 1859, Essai Sur Les Moeurs Et L’Esprit Des Nations, Et Sur Les Principaux Faits De L’Histoire, Écrivains Francais Du Siècle De Louis XIV, Catalogue; p.433)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Vingtieme, A Basle, 1785, Siècle De Louis XIV, Écrivains Sous Louis XIV, Catalogue; p.93)
“If there were no God, it would have been necessary to invent him.” – Voltaire
“Si Dieu n’existait pas, il faudrait l’inventer.” (French)
(Épître à l’Auteur du Livre des Trois Imposteurs, 1768)
(This quote in French is found in: The Complete Works Of Voltaire, Volume 136, Institut Et Musée Voltaire, 2008; p.17)
“Love truth, but pardon error.” – Voltaire
“Aime la vérité, mais pardonne à l’erreur.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Discours en Vers sur l’Homme By Voltaire, 1734, Deuxieme Discours, De La Liberte; p.9)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Avec Des Notes Et Une Notice Historique Sur La Vie De Voltaire, Tome Deuxieme, Théatre. La Henriade. La Pucelle. Poésies, Furne, 1846, Deuxieme Discours, De La Liberte; p.483)
“If God made us in his own image, we have well returned him the compliment.” – Voltaire
“Si Dieu nous a faits à son image, nous le lui avons bien rendu.” (French)
(Note:This free e-book is found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: OEuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Commentaires Sur Corneille (Cont’d) Appendice, Garnier Frères 1880; p.562)
“To pray is to flatter oneself that one will change entire nature with words.” – Voltaire
“Prier Dieu c’est se flatter qu’avec des paroles on changera toute la nature.” (French)
(Note:This free e-book is found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Voltaire’s Notebooks, Volume 2, Edited By Theodore Besterman, Institut Et Musée Voltaire, 1952; p.260)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Volume 32, Garnier Frères, 1880; p.579)
“When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion.” – Voltaire
“Quand il s’agit d’argent, tout le monde est de la même religion.” (French)
(The quote in French is found here.)
“There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.” – Voltaire
“Il y a des vérités qui ne sont pas pour tous les hommes et pour tous les temps.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Correspondance, Tome Trentième, Hachette, 1861, Lettre MMMMXCIV, Année 1764, A M. Le Cardinal De Bernis, Aux Délices, 23 Avril; p.265)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres de Voltaire, Tome LXI, Correspondance Tome XI, Chez Lefèvre, 1832, Correspondance, Année 1764, Lettre 4094, A M. Le Cardinal De Bernis, Aux Delices, 23 Avril; p.410)
Note: The year of the letter is 1764 and NOT 1761, as published in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations.
“…Emulation is only envy kept within the bounds of decency.” – Voltaire
“…l’émulation pour l’envie; peut-être aussi l’émulation n’est-elle qu’une envie qui se tient dans les bornes delà décence.” (French)
(This English version quote is also found in: The Philosophical Dictionary Voltaire, Selected And Translated By H.I. Woolf, New York: Knopf, 1924)
Another English Translation is:
“…emulation for envy; perhaps, also, emulation is nothing but envy restricted within the bounds of decency.” – Voltaire
(The English translation quote is also found here.)
(The quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique I, Tome Septième, Chez Furne Et Cie, 1835, Envie, P. 509)
(The French quote is also found here.)
“…the more I read, the more I meditate, and the more I acquire, the more am I enabled to affirm, that I know nothing.” – Voltaire
“…plus lu, plus médité, et étant plus instruit, je suis plus en état d’affirmer que je ne sais rien.” (French)
(The English translation quote is also found here.)
(The quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Quarante-Deuxième, Imp. Jean-Jacques Tourneisen, 1786, O. Occultes, Qualités Occultes, P. 185)
(The French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Huitième, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, Fils & Cie., 1870, O. Occultes, Qualités Occultes, P. 94)
“…a witty saying proves nothing.” – Voltaire
“…un bon mot ne prouve rien.” (French)
(The quote in French is found in: Voltaire Oeuvres complètes Dialogues, Tome Vingt-Huitième, Chez Plancher, 1818, Dialogues Et Entretiens Philosophiques, XXVI. Le Diner Du Comte De Boulainvilliers, II. Pendant Le Diner, P. 265)
(The French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Sixième, Philosophie – Dialogues, Chez Furne, 1837, Dialogues Et Entretiens Philosophiques, XXIII. Le Diner Du Comte De Boulainvilliers, II. Pendant Le Diner, P. 721)
“Life is bristling with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to cultivate one’s garden.” – Voltaire
“La vie est hérissée de ces épines, et je n’y sais d’autre remède que de cultiver son jardin.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Trente-Troisième, Hachette Et Cie, 1861, Correspondance (Suit), Année 1769, Lettre MMMMMDCXCIV, A M. Luneau De Boisjermain, Château De Ferney, 21 Octobre; p.64)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Douzième, Chez Firmin Didot, Fils Et Cie, 1869, Correspondance, Année 1769, A M. Luneau De Boisjermain, Chateâu de Ferney, 21 Octobre p.1020)
“…it is said that God is always on the side of the big battalions.” – Voltaire
“…On dit que Dieu est toujours pour les gros bataillons.” (French)
Another English translation is:
“…they say that God always favours the large battalions.” – Voltaire
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Nouvelle Edition, Correspondance Generale, Tome X, Chez Thomine Et Fortic, 1822, Correspondance Generale 1770, 7. A M. Le Riche, A Amiens, 6 Février; p.9)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Correspondance Génerale, Tome X, Antoine-Augustin Renouard, 1821, 172. A M. Le Riche, A Amiens, 6 Février; p.256)
“…it is better to risk sparing a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” – Voltaire
“…qu’il vaut mieux hasarder de sauver un coupable que de condamner un innocent.” (French)
Another English translation is:
“…that ’tis much more Prudence to acquit two Persons, tho’ actually guilty, than to pass Sentence of Condemnation in one that is virtuous and innocent.” – Voltaire
(Zadig or the Book Of Fate: An Oriental History By Voltaire, BOD, 2018, Ch. VI, The Judgements, P. 23)
(The quote is also found here. and here)
(The quote in French is found in: Œuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Quinzième, Hachette Et Cie, 1860, Romans, Zadig Ou La Destinée, Histoire Orientale (1747), Chapitre VI Le Ministre, P. 31)
“…minds differ still more than faces.” – Voltaire
“…les esprits diffèrent plus que les visages.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres complètes De Voltaire, Tome Quarantieme, Chez Guillaume Ettinger, 1786, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Esprit, Section V; p.129)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Treizieme, Hachette Et Cie, 1860, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Esprit, Section V; p.308)
“…Any one who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.” – Voltaire
“…qui est en droit de vous rendre absurde est en droit de vous rendre injuste.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Mélanges Philosophiques, Littéraires, Historiques, & c, Tome Séptieme,Géneve, 1777, Sur Les Miracles, Onziéme Lettre, Ecrite Le Proposant À M. Covelle; p.303)
(This quote in French is also found in: Œuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Littérature, Chez Th. Desoer, 1817, Sur Les Miracles, Onziéme Lettre, Ecrite Le Proposant À M.Covelle; p.627)
“Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy extinguishes them.” – Voltaire
“La superstition met le monde entier en flammes; la philosophie les éteint.” (French)
(This quote in English is found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Sixiéme, Aug. Ozanne, 1838, Superstition, Section III, Nouvel Exemple De La Superstition La Plus Horrible; p.884)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes, Dictionnaire Philosophique II, Tome Huitièmee, Chez Didot Frères, Fils Et Cie, 1870, Superstition, Section III, Nouvel Exemple De La Superstition La Plus Horrible; p.239)
“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” – Voltaire
“Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Quatorzième, Hachette, 1860, Liberté D’imprimer; p.115)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Dix-Huitième, Hachette Et Cie, 1876, Liberté D’imprimer; p.413)
“Morality is the same among all men; therefore it comes from God. Worship is various; therefore it is the work of man.” – Voltaire
“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.” (French)
(The quote in English is also found in: VOLTAIRE: 60+ Works in One Volume – Philosophical Writings, Novels, Historical Works, Poetry, Plays & Letters, Translated By Tobias Smollett, William F. Fleming, William Walton, E-Artnow, 2017)
(The quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Douzième, Hachette, 1860, Athée, Section II, P. 347)
(The French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Septième, Furne Et Cie, 1847, Athée, Section II, P. 204)
“It is doubtless better to pray to God stark naked, than to soil His altars and the public places with human blood.” – Voltaire
“Il vaut mieux sans doute prier Dieu tout nu, que de souiller de sang humain ses autels et les places publiques.” (French)
(This quote in English is found: A Philosophical Dictionary; From The French Of M. De Voltaire, With Additional Notes, Both Critical And Argumentative, By Abner Kneeland. First American Stereotype Edition, Volume II, J. P. Mendum, 1852, Nudity, P. 175)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Huitième, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, Fils Et Cie, 1870, Nudité; p.93)
“It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” – Voltaire
“Il est bien malaisé (puisqu’il faut enfin m’expliquer) d’ôter à des insensés des chaînes qu’ils révèrent.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Œuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Mélanges, Tome Vingtième, Hachette, 1860, Le Dinner Du Comte De Boulainvilliers; p.368)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Philosophie Dialogues, Tome Sixième, Chez Furne, 1837, Dialogues Et Entretiens Philosophiques, XXIII. Le Dinner Du Comte De Boulainvilliers, p.726)
“Men hate the individual whom they call avaricious only because there is nothing to be gained by him.” – Voltaire
“Les hommes ne haïssent celui qu’ils appellent avare que parce qu’il n’y a rien à gagner avec lui.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Douzième, Hachette Et Cie, 1860, Avarice; p.424)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Douzième, Hachette Et Cie, 1860, Avarice; p.380)
“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished who kill not in large companies, and to the sound of trumpets.” – Voltaire
“il est défendu de tuer ; tout meurtrier est puni, à moins qu’il n’ait tué en grande compagnie, et au son des trompettes.” (French)
(The quote in English is also found in: The Philosophy Of Voltaire – Collected Works: Treatise On Tolerance, Philosophical Dictionary, Candide, Letters On England, Plato’s Dream, Dialogues, The Study Of Nature, Ancient Faith And Fable, E-Artnow, 2017)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Trente-Neuvième, Jean-Jacques Tourneisen, 1786, Droit, Droit Des Gens, Droit Naturel, Droit Public, Section Première; p.393)
(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Septième, Furne Et Cie, 1847, Droit, Droit Des Gens, Droit Naturel, Droit Public, Section Premiere; p.451)
“What is toleration? 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.” – Voltaire
“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.” (French)
(This quote in English is also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique II, Tome Huitième, Chez Furne, 1835, Tolerance, Section II; p.269)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Sixième, Bacquenois, 1838, Tolerance, Section II; p.908)
“…in this world we are reduced to being either the anvil or the hammer.” – Voltaire
“…dans ce monde, on ne soit réduit à être enclume ou marteau.” (French)
(This quote in English also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Quatorzième, Hachette, 1860, Tyrannie; p.552)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes de Voltaire: Dictionnaire Philosophique II, Tome Huitième, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, Fils Et Cie, 1870, Tyrannie; p.280)
“…the best is the enemy of good.” – Voltaire
“…le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Contes En Vers, Satires, Et Poésies Mêlées, De Voltaire, Impr. De Pierre Didot L’aîné et Firmin Didot, 1801, Contes En Vers, La Bégueule, Conte Moral; p.70)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Premiere Partie, Oeuvres Poétiques Poésies Diverses, Jules Didot Aine, 1827, Poesies Diverses, Contes, 1100, La Bégueule, Conte Moral, 1772; p.1100)
“The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.” – Voltaire
“Le secret d’ennuyer est celui de tout dire.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Correspondance Avec Le Roi De Prusse, Tome I, Armand-Aubrée, 1830, Avec Le Roi De Prise-1738, 62. Du Prince Royal, A Loo En Hollande, Le 6 Auguste; p.204)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Deuxième, Theatre-La Henriade-La Pucelle-Poesies, Furne Et Cie, 1846, Sixième Discours, Sur La Nature De L’Homme; p.489)
“It is said, sometimes, that common sense is very rare.” – Voltaire
“On dit quelquefois, le sens commun est fort rare.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Sixième, Chez Charles-Guillaume Ettinger, 1786, Sens Commun; p.866)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique, Tome Quarante-Troisième, Aug. Ozanne, 1838 Sens Commun; p.176)
“One always speaks badly when one has nothing to say.” – Voltaire
“On parle toujours mal quand on n’a rien à dire.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Commentaires Sur Corneille, Chez Lefevre-Deterville, 1818, Tragedie, Acte III Scène III; p.598)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Cinquante Unieme, Commentaires Sur Corneille Tome II, De L’imprimerie De La Société Littéraire, 1784, Remarques Sur Oedipe, Tragedie, Acte III Scène III; p.206)
“…to the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.” – Voltaire
“…on doit des égards aux vivants ; on ne doit aux morts que la vérité.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire: Vie De Voltaire. Théatre, Tome Premier, Chez Furne, 1835, Lettre Premier; p.63)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Premier, Vie De Voltaire – Théatre, Chez Furne, 1835, Lettres Écrites En 1749, Lettre Première; p.65)
“Atheism is the vice of some intelligent men, and superstition is the vice of fools.” – Voltaire
“L’athéisme est le vice de quelques gens d’esprit , et la superstition le vice des sots.” (French)
(This quote in English is also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique I, Tome Septième, Chez Furne, 1835, Athéisme, Section II, Response; p.208)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique I, Tome Vingt-Neuvième, Chez MMe Ve H. Perronneau , 1819, Athéisme, Section II, Response; p.651)
“A capable man can do a thing; an able one does it.” – Voltaire
“Le capable peut, et l’habile exécuté.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Septième, Dictionnaire Philosophique I, Chez Furne, 1835, Habile, Habileté; p.671)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique Tome V, Bacquenois, 1838, Habile, Habileté; p.495)
“The imagination proceedsin a gallop; the judgement in a walking pace.” – Voltaire
“L’imagination va au galope; le jugement ne va que le pas.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Postume, Chez Barba Pougens Fuchs, 1802 p.7)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome L, Mélanges -Tome XIV, Chez Lefèvre, Firmin Frères, 1834, Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire; p.528)
“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks head, heart, and body at once.” – Voltaire
“L’amour est de toutes les passions la plus forte, parce qu’elle attaque à la fois la tête, le coeur, et le corps.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Postume, Chez Barba Pougens Fuchs, 1802 p.7)
(This quote in French is also found in: Le Dernier Volume Des Oeuvres De Voltaire: Contes, Comédie, Pensées, Poésies, Lettres, Oeuvres Inédites, Précédées Du Testament Autographe De Voltaire, Du Fac-Simile De Toutes Les Pièces Relatives À A Mort Et De l’histoire Du Coeur De, Voltaire Par Jules Janin, Henri Plon, 1862, Pensées Philosophiques; p.192)
“Honour is the instinct of virtue, and the source of her courage.” – Voltaire
“L’honneur est l’instinct de la vertu ; et il en fait le courage.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Postume, Chez Barba Pougens Fuchs, 1802 p.6)
(This quote in French is also found in: The Complete Works of Voltaire, Volume 82, Institut et Musée Voltaire, 1968; p.502)
“We should have a religion, and not be led by priests; we should have a regimen, and not be led by physicians.” – Voltaire
“Il faut avoir une religion, et ne pas croire aux prêtres; comme il faut avoir du régime et ne pas croire aux médecins.” (French)
()
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Postume, Chez Barba Pougens Fuchs, 1802; p.7)
(This quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes, Tome Neuvième, Mélanges, Littéraires-Commentaires Sur Corneille, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, Fils Et Cie, 1869, Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire; p.322)
“If every one were satisfied, none would be be busy.” – Voltaire
“Si chacun était satisfait, personne ne travaillerait.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Postume, Chez Barba Pougens Fuchs, 1802 p.8)
(This quote in French is also found in: Voltaire’s Notebooks, Volume 2; p.353)
“We treat men as we do our letters; peruse them with eagerness, but never read them a second time.” – Voltaire
“Nous traitons les hommes comme les lettres que nous recevons; nous les lisons avec empressement, mais nous ne les relisons pas.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Posthume, Chez Barba, Pougens, Fuches, 1802; p.9)
(This quote in French is also found in: Œuvres Complétes De Voltaire, Mélanges Littéraires, Tome II, Bazouge-Pigoreau, 1832, Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire; p.455)
“Conversation is the communication of our foibles.” – Voltaire
“La conversation est la communication de nos faiblesses.” (French)
(This quote in French is also found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Posthume, Chez Barba, Pougens, Fuches, 1802; p.10)
(This quote in French is also found in: Voltaire’s notebooks, Volume 2. Institut et musée Voltaire, 1952; p.353)
“Honour is the diamond that virtue wears on her finger.” – Voltaire
“L’honneur est le diamant que la vertu porte au doigt.” (French)
(This quote in French is found in: Pensées, Remarques Et Observations De Voltaire, Ouvrage Posthume, Chez Barba, Pougens, Fuches, 1802; p.17)
(This quote in French is also found in: Le Dernier Volume Des Oeuvres De Voltaire: Contes, Comédie, Pensées, Poésies. Lettres, Henri Plon, 1862, Pensées Philosophique; p.195)
“…Optimism […] is the madness of maintaining that all is well when we are miserable.” – Voltaire
“…optimisme…c’est la rage de soutenir que tout est bien quand on est mal.” (French)
(Candide By Voltaire, With Introduction By Philip Littell, Boni & Liveright, Inc, 1918, XIX; p.91)
(This quote in French is found in: Les Cefs-D’Oeuvre De L’esprit, Voltaire Candide Ou L’optimisme, Éditions Jules Tallandier, 1900; XIX; p.95)
(This quote in French is also found in: Candide Ou L’optimisme, Traduit De L’Allemand, Par Mr. De Volt, A. Londres, 1759, Chapitre Dix-Neuvieme; p.95)
“…labour preserves us from three great evils: weariness vice and want.” – Voltaire
“…le travail éloigne de nous trois grands maux: l’énnui, le vice et le besoin.” (French)
()
(This quote in French is found in: Les Cefs-D’Oeuvre De L’esprit, Voltaire Candide Ou L’optimisme, Éditions Jules Tallandier, 1900; XXX; p.170)
(This quote in French is also found in: Candide Ou L’optimisme, Traduit De L’Allemand, Par Mr. De Volt, A. Londres, 1759, Chapitre Trentieme; p.162)
“Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy…” Voltaire
“La superstition eft a la Religion ce que l’Astrologie eft a l’Astronomie…” (French)
(This quote in English also found here.)
(This quote in French is found in: Traité Sur La Tolérance, 1763; ch. XX; p.154)
(This quote in French is also found in: Traité Sur La Tolérance, 1763, ch.XX; p.179)
Note: Here are three sites where you can find the work of Voltaire: