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Quotes of the Day for 21 November 2009 – Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet was born at Paris on this day in 1694. He received his education at a Jesuit college there, leaving school at age 16 and soon becoming a favorite among the aristocracy for his wit. Hubris struck, after he wrote a satire of the government he spent almost a year in the Bastille and was forced into exile in England for three years. He made at least one return to the Bastille, and much of his life was spent living in some place because he had been ordered out of another. Starting with a play he wrote in prison he made quite a name for himself as a playwright and philosopher, the name he made was Voltaire.
You will find an expanded profile, photo, additional biographical links, and all quotes from this author on the author's Quotable Notable page.
The quotes:
Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.
The wicked can have only accomplices, the voluptuous have companions in debauchery, self-seekers have associates, the politic assemble the factions, the typical idler has connections, princes have courtiers. Only the virtuous have friends.
A minister of state is excusable for the harm he does when the helm of government has forced his hand in a storm; but in the calm he is guilty of all the good he does not do.
All men would then be necessarily equal, if they were without needs. It is the poverty connected with our species which subordinates one man to another. It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.
In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.
Monsieur l'abbé, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.
All from François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), 1694 - 1778
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