Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire)

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or
addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties read more

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 (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire),

If the bookseller happens to desire a privilege for his
merchandise, whether he is selling Rabelais or the Fathers read more

If the bookseller happens to desire a privilege for his
merchandise, whether he is selling Rabelais or the Fathers of the
Church, the magistrate grants the privilege without answering for
the contents of the book.
- Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire),

Your Majesty may think me an impatient sick man, and that the
Turks are even sicker.

Your Majesty may think me an impatient sick man, and that the
Turks are even sicker.

The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one
on which depends the rest read more

The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one
on which depends the rest of our days.
[Fr., Le premier pas, mon fils, que l'on fait dans le monde,
Est celui dont depend le reste de nos jours.]

Common sense is not so common.
[Fr., Le sens commun n'est pas si common.]
- Voltaire read more

Common sense is not so common.
[Fr., Le sens commun n'est pas si common.]
- Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire),