François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, free trade and separation of church and state. He comtinues to be one of the most quotable if no longer among the most influential thinkers.

Here is a brief selection of my personal favorites:

o “To write is to wage war.”

o “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets”

o”Truth is a fruit that can only be picked when it is very ripe.”

o “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

o “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.”

o “All history is little else than a long succession of useless cruelties.”

o “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short on: ‘O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it.”

o “The only way to compel men to speak good of us is to do it.”

o “The best is the arch enemy of the good.”o “All men are born equal; it is not birth, but virtue alone, that makes the difference.”