Voltaire on government

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

~ Voltaire (1764)

Voltaire on history

History consists of a series of accumulated imaginative inventions.

~ Voltaire

Voltaire on detachment from reality

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

~ Voltaire

Voltaire on appreciation

Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

~ Voltaire, satirist

Voltaire on the presumption of innocence

It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.

~ Voltaire, Zadig (1747)

Voltaire on man's ability to rationalize

The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.

 ~ Voltaire