Last updated on April 25th, 2018 by

I have selected the best 5 Voltaire quotations to share with you on this blog post.

Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet . He is said to be one of France’s greatest Enlightenment writers.

He wrote poetry, plays, historical works and philosophical works.

His well-known play “Oedipus” (French: Œdipe) is a tragedy was performed in 1718.

best 5 Voltaire quotationsBesides writing other tragedy dramas, Voltaire wrote a notable historical works “The Age of Louis XIV” and “Essay on the Customs and the Spirit of the Nations“.

This controversial French dramatist and critic was exiled to Tulle for mocking the regent Orleans.

Almost two years later, he returned to Paris, only to be arrested and exiled to the Bastille for a year on charges of writing libelous poetry.

But again, this literary genius was sent to the Bastille again in 1726, for arguing with the Chevalier de Rohan.

As a result, Voltaire was shipped off to England for three years.

It was much later, he returned to Paris, where he died in his sleep on May 30, 1778

Best 5 Voltaire Quotations

Here is my favorite best five Voltaire quotations:

“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)

(Micromegas And Other Short Fictions By Francois Voltaire, Translated By Theo Cuffe, With Introduction And Notes By Haydnmason, Penguin Books, 2002, Mélange, Dialogue Between The Cock And The Hen)

(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

(Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations By John Bartlett, Edited By Geoffrey O’Brien, Hachette UK, 2014; p.cxxxiii)

(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)

“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: Œuvres De Voltaire, Tome XIII, Poésies – Tome II, Chez Lefèvre, 1833, Épîtres, Épître CXI, A L’Auteur Du Livre Des Trois Imposteurs, 1769; p.265)

(This quote in French is also found in: The Complete Works Of Voltaire, Volume 136, Institut Et Musée Voltaire, 2008; p.17)

“If every one were satisfied, none would be be busy.” – Voltaire

“Si chacun était satisfait, personne ne travaillerait.” (French)

(Thoughts, Remarks, And Observations By Voltaire, Published In Parts By M. Piccini The Younger, Translated From The French, G. And J. Robinson, 1802, 41., p.11)

(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)

“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)

(This quote in French is found in: Oeuvres Completes De Voltaire, Tome Douzième, Chez Firmin Didot Frères, Fils & Cie., 1869, Année 1760, Correspondance, A Madame D’Epinai, A Ferney, 26 Decembre; p.159)

(This French quote is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes De Voltaire, Tome Vingt-Neuvième, Hachette Et Cie, 1861, Correspondance (Suit), Année 1760, MMMCCV A Madame D’Epinai, A Ferney, 26 Decembre; p.87)

(Another source here.)

“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)

(A Philosophical Dictionary: From the French, Volume 3 By Voltaire, Translated By John G. Gorton, John And H. L. Hunt, 1824, Faith, Section I; p.156)

(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)

Here is a longer list of fully verified authentic Voltaire quotations.

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