Voltaire

Voltaire (1694–1778), born François-Marie Arouet, was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, and historian celebrated for his wit, sharp criticism of intolerance, and tireless defense of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech. His pen name, Voltaire, became synonymous with the intellectual spirit of eighteenth-century France. He was twice imprisoned in the Bastille for his satirical verses and spent years in exile in England, where he absorbed ideas about political freedom that shaped his later writings.

Voltaire was remarkably prolific, producing works in nearly every literary genre. His masterpiece, Candide (1759), a biting satire on optimism and human suffering, remains one of the most widely read novels in Western literature. Other notable works include Letters on England (1733), which praised British institutions; the Philosophical Dictionary (1764), a compendium of his Enlightenment views; the philosophical tales Zadig (1747) and Micromégas (1752); and historical studies such as The Age of Louis XIV (1751). He also wrote successful tragedies, including Oedipus and Zaïre.

Voltaire's famous motto, "Écrasez l'infâme" ("Crush the infamous"), captured his crusade against fanaticism and superstition, making him a towering figure whose ideas helped inspire the French Revolution.