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But for what purpose was the earth formed? asked Candide. To drive us mad, replied Martin.
Voltaire
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Voltaire
Age: 84 †
Born: 1694
Born: February 20
Died: 1778
Died: May 30
Author
Autobiographer
Correspondent
Diarist
Encyclopédistes
Essayist
Historian
Philosopher
Playwright
Poet
Poet Lawyer
Political Scientist
Paris
France
François-Marie Arouet
Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire
Francois Marie Arouet
Dictator of Letters
Martin
Formed
Mad
Drive
Asked
Purpose
Earth
Candide
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True greatness consists in the use of a powerful understanding to enlighten oneself and others.
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And ask each passenger to tell his story, and if there is one of them all who has not cursed his existence many times, and said to himself over and over again that he was the most miserable of men, I give you permission to throw me head-first into the sea.
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The spirit of property doubles a man's strength.
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History in general is a collection of crimes, follies, and misfortunes among which we have now and then met with a few virtues, and some happy times.
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The passions are the winds which fill the sails of the vessel they sink it at times, but without them it would be impossible to make way.
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What can I hope when all is right?
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Alas...I too have known love, that ruler of hearts, that soul of our soul: it's never brought me anything except one kiss and twenty kicks in the rump. How could such a beautiful cause produce such an abominable effect on you?
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We are obliged to place ourselves on the level of our age before we can rise above it.
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You can never correct your work well until you have forgotten it.
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Common sense is both more rare and more desirable in leaders than mere intelligence.
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The abuse of grace is affectation, as the abuse of the sublime is absurdity all perfection is nearly a fault.
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Our country is that spot to which our heart is bound.
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History is the study of the world's crime
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Discord is the great ill of mankind and tolerance is the only remedy for it.
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We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation.
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