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About this quote

What does it mean?
He suggests that reading and dancing are harmless pastimes that should be allowed freely. These activities do not harm society.
In plain terms
Reading and dancing are safe fun.
What can you take from it?
Simple pleasures cause no harm.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • social norms
  • education

Putting it to work

  • support arts and learning
  • avoid censorship

Questions to consider

  • What freedoms are truly safe?
  • How should we judge leisure?

Another view

Some contexts may require limits.

More from Voltaire

  1. Que les supplices des criminels soient utiles. Un homme pendu n'est bon a rien, et un homme condamne aux ouvrages publics sert encore la patrie, et est une lec…

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  2. Toutes les sectes des philosophes ont echoue contre l'ecueil du mal physique et moral. Il ne reste que d'avouer que Dieu ayant agi pour le mieux n'a pu agir mi…

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  3. Je meurs en adorant Dieu, en aimant mes amis, en ne haissant pas mes ennemis et en detestant la superstition.

    Permalink to quote #52

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