Every man must get to Heaven his own way.
Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer.
You will certainly grant me that neither antiquity nor whatever nation has devised a more repulsive and blasphemous absurdity than that of eating your God. This is the most disgusting dogma of Christian religion, the greatest insult to the Highest Being, the climax of madness and insanity.
It is the fashion these days to make war, and presumably it will last a while yet.
The people say what they like and then I do what I like.
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
Pleasure is the most real good in this life.
A man with his heart in his profession imagines and finds resources where the worthless and lazy despair.
Diplomacy without arms is like a concert without a score.
To your care and recommendation am I indebted for having replaced a half-blind mathematician with a mathematician with both eyes, which will especially please the anatomical members of my Academy.
My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to do what they please, and I am to do what I please.
Theologians are all alike, of whatever religion or country they may be; their aim is always to wield despotic authority over men’s consciences; they therefore persecute all of us who have the temerity to tell the truth.
It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.
A king is the first servant and first magistrate of the state.
Man is made for error; it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort.
Christianity – An old metaphysical romance, filled with marvels, contradictions, and absurdity, born in the ardent imagination of Orientals, has spread into our Europe. Enthusiasts have purveyed it, careerists have pretended to accept it, imbeciles have believed it.
Always presume that the enemy has dangerous designs and always be forehanded with the remedy. But do not let these calculations make your timid.
Books make up no small part of human happiness.
It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.
I love opposition that has convictions.