Voltaire

Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.

Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.

The safest course is to do nothing against one’s conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.

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

The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.

Religion is nothing else but love of God and man.

I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.

How can one be well…when one suffers morally?

A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

Every great achievement is the victory of a flaming heart.

Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense.

There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.

A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.

If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.

You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.

Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul.

An empire is an immense egotism.

The lofty pine is oftenest shaken by the winds; High towers fall with a heavier crash; And the lightning strikes the highest mountain.