Posted on 03/22/2023 2:12:51 PM PDT by DallasBiff
November 21, 1694, Paris, France—died May 30, 1778, Paris), one of the greatest of all French writers. Although only a few of his works are still read, he continues to be held in worldwide repute as a courageous crusader against tyranny, bigotry, and cruelty. Through its critical capacity, wit, and satire, Voltaire’s work vigorously propagates an ideal of progress to which people of all nations have remained responsive. His long life spanned the last years of classicism and the eve of the revolutionary era, and during this age of transition his works and activities influenced the direction taken
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I don't think so. A professor of history where I attended a class back in the day, came in dressed like him, and stated, "I may not like what you say, but I will defend to the death, for your right to say it".
I know it's 18th century France and guys wore big hair and frilly clothes.
A physician, waiting up with Voltaire at his death, said that he cried out with utter desperation, “I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months of life. Then I shall go to hell and you will go with me, oh, Christ, oh, Jesus Christ!”
If he'd not had influential friends at court I doubt his head would have been attached to his body when he died.
He was a notorious atheist. On his deathbed someone brought is a young priest who offered the last rights. Voltaire did not object.
The priest started by asking,
“Do you reject Satan and all his works?”
Voltaire replied,
“Now, Father, this is no time for me to be making enemies”
RE: Although only a few of his works are still read.
As Steve Martin wrote in the New Yorker, authors of literary works should take a tip from Dennis Rodman, top bestseller, and get a good ghost writer. He has lots and lots of books sold.
RE: Would Voltaire have survived today’s cancel culture?
Remains to be seen if any of us good people here will survive.
Fun Fact: the bust in Perry Mason’s office is Voltaire.
I read Candide back in the day, even did a term paper on it. But I’ll be darned if I can remember much of it. I even have an LP of the musical production.
Great music.
If I remember one thing right (I hope), wasn’t he run out of France? I believe he was exiled….
“Let your garden growwww”🎼🎶
Do either of you have citations for these assertions?
Survived? Voltaire if anything would have been leading the charge of the cancel culture. Let’s not forget he was the one who orchestrated the Jesuit exile and constantly played the victim while simultaneously preventing Christians from actually being able to defend themselves when his lies were repeatedly exposed.
That he’s actually considered a defender of free speech disturbs me, because if anything, he ought to be remembered as an outright perverter of the concept.
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