Quotes by Voltaire - Do you agree and Why?

by Lady Lee 33 Replies latest jw friends

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  PSacramento

  Not one of my favorite historical figures but he had some nice quotes.

  He was a tad quick to judge but was at least honest when he felt he was wrong about something.

  He had a bit of a persecution complex but of course, he feed into it with his writings and works.

  One wonders what he would have thought about the horrific acts of the french revolution.

  I wonder what the man that said "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that ever infected the world" would have thought of the "reign of terror" that cost 10's of 1000's of lives.
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  tec

  Woe to the makers of literal translations, who by rendering every word weaken the meaning! It is indeed by so doing that we can say the letter kills and the spirit gives life.

  I like this one. If its written, then its gospel (literally and figuratively), and if the spirit is saying something else, then too many people ignore the spirit and live by the letter.

  Tammy
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  AK - Jeff

  Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

  Many point to the WTS as guilty of this. But they are a small stone in a large quarry in this regard. All religion/beliefs are guilty in this. Billions of entire lives have been wasted [and are being wasted] waiting on an absurd God [created in the image of man often] to deliver them from the horrific result of a naked lady eating an apple after a talking snake convinced her.

  I can think of few atrocities greater, nor absurdities worse.

  Jeff
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  BluesBrother

  Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.

  Sure, when you think of established truths but who is to judge what is an absurdity? One man's view of the ridiculous is another man's basic truth....At one time, in certain places it was an absurdity to proclaim that slaves should be free, ot that women should be given the vote

  Differences of opinion will always be with us and thinkers have to challenge the norm, even if they are themselves considered absurd by the establishment.

  I like

  Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
• 

  Lady Lee

  you're all making me smile
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  THE GLADIATOR

  These are all pithy and worthy quotes. Some I can concur with, while others need clarification. Morality is seldom a black or white issue but contains shades of grey.

  Voltaire makes these bold statements with certainty as though they were fact, yet states: 'Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.'

  By his own reckoning he becomes absurd. This illustrates the error of being dogmatic.
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  GLTirebiter

  The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.

  Therein lies the cornerstone of both religion and mental health. Anyone who tries to convince you to do otherwise should be ignored.
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  tec

  Voltaire makes these bold statements with certainty as though they were fact, yet states: 'Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.' By his own reckoning he becomes absurd. This illustrates the error of being dogmatic.

  :)

  *off topic*

  The other night my son was watching tv, and a commercial for Justin Beiber came on... where he says Never Say Never. So my son scoffs (no Beiber fan) and says he can't say that without saying 'Never', himself.

  I think its kind of a paradox, but I was still pleased that he reasoned that out at once.

  Tammy
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  Justitia Themis

  These are all pithy and worthy quotes. Some I can concur with, while others need clarification. Morality is seldom a black or white issue but contains shades of grey.

  Voltaire makes these bold statements with certainty as though they were fact, yet states: 'Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.'

  By his own reckoning he becomes absurd. This illustrates the error of being dogmatic.

  Nice reasoning G. :)
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  hybridous

  I always generally agreed with Voltaire - he seemed to have pretty accurately perceived the world.

  This has always been one of my favorites:

  "...So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so;

  for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise,

  to put shackles upon sleeping men."

  It just seems to be ever poignant.