The husband who decides to surprise his wife is often very much surprised himself.
Voltaire

The ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.
Voltaire

The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great.
Voltaire

The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.
Voltaire

The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
Voltaire

The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.
Voltaire

The multitude of books is making us ignorant.
Voltaire

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.
Voltaire

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.
Voltaire

The public is a ferocious beast; one must either chain it or flee from it.
Voltaire

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

The secret of being a bore... is to tell everything.
Voltaire

The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice.
Voltaire

The superfluous, a very necessary thing.
Voltaire

The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it.
Voltaire

The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reason.
Voltaire

The very impossibility in which I find myself to prove that God is not, discovers to me his existence.
Voltaire

The world embarrasses me, and I cannot dream that this watch exists and has no watchmaker.
Voltaire

There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.
Voltaire

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
Voltaire