Voltaire quotes

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Everything's fine today, that is our illusion.
Voltaire
Illusion
Today
The ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.
Voltaire
Government
Assassination
Democracy
The husband who decides to surprise his wife is often very much surprised himself.
Voltaire
Wife
Husband
The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say; but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work.
Voltaire
Work
Compliment
Nothing
Public
Style
The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one on which depends the rest of our days.
Voltaire
Son
First
Rest
World
The ear is the avenue to the heart.
Voltaire
Heart
The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
Voltaire
Colors
Contrast
Effect
Eye
May
Painting
By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.
Voltaire
Appreciation
Excellence
Property
Fear follows crime and is its punishment.
Voltaire
Fear
Crime
Punishment
Business is the salt of life.
Voltaire
Business
Life
Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause.
Voltaire
Cause
Chance
Nothing
Sense
Word
Common sense is not so common.
Voltaire
Common sense
Divorce is probably of nearly the same date as marriage. I believe, however, that marriage is some weeks the more ancient.
Voltaire
Marriage
Divorce
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
Voltaire
Certainty
Doubt
Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.
Voltaire
Life
Cards
Deals
Order
Play