The name 'Voltaire', which the author adopted in 1718 both as a pen name and for daily use, is an anagram of 'Arovet Li', the Latinized spelling of his surname, Arouet, and the initial letters of the sobriquet 'le jeune' (the young). Voltaire's writings qualify him among the brilliant minds of his time, and actually, of all times. He was an excellent writer who wrote all there was to write, from poetry, plays, and novels, to history and science books. His writings gather over 2,000 pamphlets and books and over 20,000 letters. It is indeed a large palette in his artistic range, and the complexity of his works speak for themselves, and, of course, speak about the author who is indeed a master of words. Best Quotes of Voltaire "The sentiment of justice is so natural, and so universally acquired by all mankind, that it seems to be independent of all law, all party, and all religion." "Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." "Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination." "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." "Tears are the silent language of grief." "Only your friends steal your books." "The pursuit of what is true and the practice of what is good are the two most important objects of philosophy." "Shun idleness is the rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals." "History consists of a series of accumulated imaginative inventions." "Pleasure is the object, duty and the goal of all rational creatures." "The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great." "It requires ages to destroy a popular opinion." "Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes in the twinkling of an eye, but the friendships between us, the mutual confidence, the delights of the heart, the enchantment of the soul, these things do not perish and can never be destroyed. I shall love you until I die." "It is not known precisely where angels dwell - whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God's pleasure that we should be informed of their abode." "History is the recital of facts represented as true. Fable, on the other hand, is the recital of facts represented as fiction. The history of man's ideas is nothing more than the chronicle of human error." "History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up." "I know of no great men except those who have rendered great service to the human race." "All men have equal rights to liberty, to their property, and to the protection of the laws." "He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise." "Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference." "By appreciation we make excellence in others our own property." "Originality is nothing but judicious plagiarism." "The multitude of books is making us ignorant." "Injustice in the end produces independence." "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it." "The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity." "To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered." "Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls." "It is fancy rather than taste which produces so many new fashions." "It is as impossible to translate poetry as it is to translate music." "Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy." "Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes." "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." "Prejudices are what rule the vulgar crowd." "Fear follows crime, and is its punishment." "Prejudices are what fools use for reason." "The multitude is ruled by prejudices." "Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life." "Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vices, and need." "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." "Once the people begin to reason, all is lost." "Work is often the father of pleasure."