Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France.1)
He adopted the pen name “Voltaire” in 1718, which he used for the rest of his life.2)
Voltaire was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement in 18th-century Europe that emphasized reason, science, and individualism.3)
He was known for his wit, satire, and advocacy for civil liberties, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech.4)
Voltaire's father wanted him to study law, but he was more interested in literature and philosophy.5)
He wrote plays, poems, essays, novels, and historical works, covering a wide range of topics.6)
Voltaire's most famous work is the satirical novella “Candide,” published in 1759, which criticizes optimism and explores the problem of evil in the world.7)
He was a prolific correspondent and wrote thousands of letters to friends, scholars, and public figures throughout his life.8)
Voltaire was exiled to England for nearly three years (1726-1729) after criticizing the French government and offending a nobleman with his writing.9)
During his time in England, Voltaire was influenced by English thinkers such as John Locke and Isaac Newton.10)
He returned to France in 1729 and continued to write prolifically, producing works on philosophy, history, science, and religion.11)
Voltaire was a deist, believing in a rational God who created the universe but did not intervene in human affairs.12)
Despite his criticism of organized religion, Voltaire defended religious tolerance and condemned religious persecution.13)
He famously said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” illustrating his commitment to freedom of speech.14)
Voltaire had a tumultuous relationship with the French authorities, often facing censorship and imprisonment for his writings.15)
He spent several periods of his life living in exile to avoid persecution for his controversial ideas.16)
Voltaire was fluent in multiple languages, including French, Latin, English, Italian, and Spanish.17)
He was a member of several intellectual circles and corresponded with leading thinkers of his time, including Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Benjamin Franklin.18)
Voltaire was critical of the institution of monarchy and advocated for political reform, including greater power for the people and limits on royal authority.19)
He was a passionate advocate for justice and campaigned against miscarriages of justice, such as wrongful convictions and torture.20)
Voltaire had a keen interest in science and wrote extensively on scientific topics, including physics, biology, and astronomy.21)
He popularized the ideas of Newtonian physics in France and helped to advance scientific knowledge during the Enlightenment.22)
Voltaire was an early supporter of vaccination, advocating for the use of inoculation to prevent smallpox.23)
He was also interested in economics and wrote about topics such as trade, finance, and taxation.24)
Voltaire had a sharp wit and was known for his clever aphorisms and bon mots.25)
He was a lifelong critic of superstition and irrationality, advocating for a rational and empirical approach to understanding the world.26)
Voltaire was a prolific playwright, with works such as “Zaïre,” “Mahomet,” and “The Orphan of China” among his most famous plays.27)
He was a proponent of enlightened despotism, believing that enlightened monarchs could promote progress and reform from above.28)
Voltaire had a complex relationship with women, often forming intense friendships with female intellectuals but also expressing misogynistic attitudes in some of his writings.29)
He was an early advocate for animal rights and spoke out against cruelty to animals.30)