The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work. Voltaire on work
Let us work without theorizing, tis the only way to make life endurable. Voltaire on work
The multitude of books is making us ignorant. Voltaire on books
The secret of being a bore is to tell everything. Voltaire on bore
Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause. Voltaire on chance
Whoever serves his country well has no need of ancestors. Voltaire on family
Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool. Voltaire on fool
I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil. Voltaire on literature
Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination. Voltaire on love
Love has features which pierce all hearts, he wears a bandage which conceals the faults of those beloved. He has wings, he comes quickly and flies away the same. Voltaire on love
Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. Voltaire on misfortune
Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes. Voltaire on opinion
You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time - but most of the time they will make fools of themselves. Voltaire on people
Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls. Voltaire on poetry
To believe in God is impossible not to believe in Him is absurd. Voltaire on religion
The world embarrasses me, and I cannot dream that this watch exists and has no watchmaker. Voltaire on religion
Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense. Voltaire on religion
The public is a ferocious beast; one must either chain it or flee from it. Voltaire on society
As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities. Voltaire on society
Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and speech only to conceal their thoughts. Voltaire on thoughts