Voltaire on the good life

As mentioned in the introduction to the previous quote, Voltaire was an advocate of the rights inherent in every human being. In Voltaire's opinion, it is precisely this freedom that makes us so unique as human beings. For although we can disagree with everything someone says, we must give the other person the freedom to say whatever they want to say.

This statement: "I may disagree with you, but I would give my life for you to be able to express your opinion freely" is often attributed to Voltaire. is often attributed to Voltaire, but it was the writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall who published this sentence in a biography of Voltaire. However, Voltaire would probably have signed this statement without further ado. Now that we have a relatively good understanding of what kind of character this brilliant thinker had, let's look at a statement he actually made himself.

"God has given us life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of a good life."

Voltaire

Even if you wouldn't expect it from someone as open-minded as Voltaire, he believed in a god. He described himself as a deist. In deism, the ideas of a god vary greatly, but this is not really important here. What distinguishes Deism from many other faiths is that it is the rationale, not the authority of a revelation, of a statement that makes it right or wrong. Put more simply, right action does not only take place in a religion. So Voltaire also saw that many religions share many characteristics, be it charity, respect for parents or anything else.

Voltaire saw a God as the creator of our universe, but he no longer acts actively, but leaves creation to itself. This is also the reason why we as humans have to make sure that we have a good life ourselves. Because at the end of the day, it is our reason, the reason of all people, that contributes to us leading a good life.

It is therefore not only a gift from ourselves to ourselves, but also a gift from ourselves to others and vice versa. Because even if we can use our reason to make our own lives and those of the people around us better, the others around us should also be reasonable in turn.

It is not for nothing that there are statements in numerous religions such as: "And as you would have people do to you, do also to them!" (Bible, Matthew 7, verse 12). So try to use your common sense when dealing with other people. This is the only way we as humanity can make good use of the gift of life.