Francois-Marie Arouet, more famously known as Voltaire, was a French playwright, novelist, and philosopher, etc. who lived from 1694 to 1778. His name is often mentioned when historians discuss the Age of Enlightenment, a period that saw many societies set aside superstition, dogma, and intolerance, and embrace reason, moderation, and acceptance.
He may have been the world’s first human rights activist, calling out religious zealotry and willful ignorance that had seen the unjust arrest, conviction and execution of a Protestant man in very Catholic France. He used his writing to stir up public opinion and inspire progress.
He was definitely a provocateur, getting himself locked up in the Bastille at an early age for penning a humorous poem that, for some reason, the king didn’t find funny. And while he courted public fame and royal favor his entire life, he still managed to find himself in exile twice. When he did reside in France, he darted in and out of Paris, finally establishing a luxurious estate, not accidentally near the Swiss border, just in case things got dicey again and he had to make a run for it.
Over the years, Voltaire had a legendary rivalry with Rousseau, another great mind of the time, which did not bring out the best in either man, especially Voltaire. He did, however, recognize injustice. He saw the possibility of a better world. And he used his writing ability to communicate that vision to the masses.
In doing so, he left us with more than a few timeless quips. “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” And “Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.”
In this current age of grandstanding and bluster, Voltaire remains refreshing. His themes of ‘mind your own business’ and ‘think for yourself’ are a welcome respite from the nonstop proselytizing, ‘my way or the highway’ attitudes that dominates public discourse today.
We need a little more Voltaire in our daily thinking. A little more logic, rationale, and evidence-based conclusions. A little more patience and acceptance of those who may be different and think differently than us.
We also need a little more Voltaire in our daily actions. A little more provocation of authority when it’s obviously in the wrong. A little more pushback when civil rights are eroded. A little more action in the streets when we don’t find justice in the courts.
For his part, Voltaire lived fully, wrote voraciously, and maintained a healthy suspicion for religion. When a priest arrived at his deathbed and suggested that Voltaire renounce Satan before he died, Voltaire demurred, saying that, at this late hour, he didn’t want to make any enemies.
Ironically, he now rests in the Pantheon in Paris, directly opposite Rousseau.
For myself, as a writer, I find myself often inspired by his example. I look forward to courting fame and challenging the authorities. When happening upon an injustice, I’ll be delighted to not put a pin in it, but put my pen to it.
So, to the corrupt, the would-be authoritarians, and the enemies of liberty, I say…
En garde.