Voltaire's Secret to a Meaningful Life
How to keep boredom, vice, and need at bay
Voltaire was a French philosopher, author and mathematician who lived in the eighteenth century. He is known for his wit and sense of humour, but he is also famous for his strong belief in tolerance.
In his biography of Voltaire, historian William D. Irvine called the 18th-century philosopher “the most famous intellectual in Europe” at the time. In addition to being a literary giant and one of the key figures of the Enlightenment, Voltaire was also an influential social critic who left behind a trove of insightful philosophy on life and living.
Voltaire believed that a meaningful life should be based on reason, compassion and tolerance. He argued that people should think for themselves, learn from their mistakes and treat others with respect.
Voltaire had a knack for cutting through pretentiousness with his biting wit and razor-sharp observations. He also understood deeply that happiness is not just about keeping up appearances but also finding meaning and fulfilment in life, regardless of external circumstances.
Voltaire had a very tragic life. He was an orphan who lost his mother when he was ten years old. His father was arrested and executed for being a protestant at the time. So Voltaire was then sent…
