06/09/2023
https://historeetees.com/
Voltaire was not his real name: Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet. He later adopted the pen name "Voltaire" in 1718, when he was in his mid-twenties. He was a prolific writer and produced over 20,000 letters and over 2,000 books and pamphlets during his lifetime. His works ranged from plays and poetry to philosophy, history and science.
Voltaire was exiled from France twice during his lifetime. The first time was in 1716 when he was sent to the Bastille prison for insulting a nobleman. The second time was in 1726, when he was forced to leave France due to his satirical writings. He championed religious tolerance and advocated for the separation of church and state. He was critical of religious dogma and superstition and believed in the power of reason and science.
He popularized the phrase, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it": Although often attributed to Voltaire himself, this phrase was coined by Evelyn Beatrice, a biographer of Voltaire, in her book "The Friends of Voltaire." The quote reflects Voltaire's belief in the importance of freedom of speech and expression.
