Voltaire

1694–1778

Nationality: French

Historical Period: The 18th Century

Voltaire (1694-1778) was one of the leading figures of the French Enlightenment. He first made a name for himself as a poet and playwright before turning to political philosophy, history, religious criticism, and other literary activities.

Quotes from Voltaire:

• Voltaire on not “the best of all possible worlds”
• Voltaire laments the destruction of Lisbon in an earthquake and criticises the philosophers who thought that “all’s well with the world” and the religious who thought it was “God’s will”

Titles from Voltaire:

• Author: Candide, ou l’Optimisme; traduit de l’Allemand de M. le Docteur Ralph
• Author: An Essay on Crimes and Punishments
• Author: Toleration and Other Essays
• Author: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version, in 21 vols.