Voltaire:
Voltaire wrote satirical poetry, essays and books on society in an entertaining style. He was imprisoned in the Bastille for mocking the Church and the royal court. After his release, he was arrested again for insulting a nobleman and was given a choice of imprisonment or exile. He went to Britain. Voltaire influenced the government of the United States with his ideas of religious freedom and freedom of the press.
Quotes by Voltaire:
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
"This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire."
"(Men) use thought only to justify their injustices, and speech only to conceal their thoughts."
"Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them."
"History is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes."
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."
"God is on the side not of the big battalions, but of the best shots."
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."(?)
Voltaire: Author and Philosopher