La notre [religion] est sans contredit la plus ridicule, la plus absurde, et la plus sanguinaire qui ait jamais infecte le monde. Votre Majeste rendra un service eternel au genre humain en detruisant cette infame superstition, je ne dis pas chez la canaille, qui n'est pas digne d'etre eclairee, et a laquelle tous les jougs sont propres; je dis chez les honnetes gens, chez les hommes qui pensent, chez ceux qui veulent penser... Je ne m'afflige de toucher a la mort que par mon profond regret de ne vous pas seconder dans cette noble entreprise, la plus belle et la plus respectable qui puisse signaler l'esprit humain.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Voltaire harshly criticizes Christianity as absurd and violent, urging its destruction among intellectuals. He views superstition as harmful to humanity.
- In plain terms
- He thinks religion is dangerous and should be removed.
- What can you take from it?
- Superstition harms human progress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is religion inherently harmful?
- How should we treat beliefs?
Another view
The critique is overly broad and dismissive.
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