If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer.

Voltaire

More information about this quote

Topic

Existence of God God

Author

Voltaire

Source

Letter to the Author of The Three Imposters

Medium

Letter

Language

French

Time

1768 1760s 18th century

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Voltaire. Épître à l'Auteur du Livre des Trois Imposteurs [Letter to the author of The Three Impostors]. 10 Nov. 1770.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Voltaire

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

Voltaire

Philosophical Dictionary

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More information about this quote
Topic
Purpose of government

Author

Voltaire
Source
Philosophical Dictionary
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1764 1760s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Voltaire. "Argent [Money]." Dictionnaire Philosophique [Philosophical Dictionary]. c. 1764.

Another quote from the 1760s

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms his strength into right, and obedience into duty.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of power

Author

Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Source
The Social Contract
Genre
Political literature Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1762 1760s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Du contrat social ou Principes du droit politique [On the Social Contract or Principles of Political Law]. Amsterdam: Marc Michel Rey, 1762, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. "Of the Social Contract." Of the Social Contract and Other Political Writings, translated by Quintin Hoare. Penguin Classics, 2012, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Another quote about God

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire: but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1st Kings 19:11-12

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of God God
Source
1st Kings The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
538 BC 530s BC 6th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st Kings 19:11-12).

Another quote originally in French

If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.

François de La Rochefoucauld

Reflections

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More information about this quote
Topic
Character flaws

Author

François de La Rochefoucauld
Source
Reflections
Medium
Epigram
Language
French
Time
1678 1670s 17th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Reflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims]. c. 1665.

Current Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Collected Maxims and Other Reflections, translated by E. H. and A. M. Blackmore and Francine Giguere. Oxford University Press, 2008.