The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (447 page)

Voltaire
1694–1778

1
Dans ce meilleur des mondes possibles…tout est au mieux.In this best of possible worlds…all is for the best.
usually quoted "All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds"

Candide
(1759) ch. 1

2
These two nations have been at war over a few acres of snow near Canada, and…they are spending on this fine struggle more than Canada itself is worth.
of the struggle between the French and the British for the control of colonial north Canada

Candide
(1759) ch. 23

3
Dans ce pays-ci il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres.In this country [England] it is thought well to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others.
referring to the contentious execution of Admiral Byng (1704–57) for neglect of duty in failing to relieve Minorca

Candide
(1759) ch. 23.

4
Il faut cultiver notre jardin.We must cultivate our garden.

Candide
(1759) ch. 30

5
[Men] use thought only to justify their injustices, and speech only to conceal their thoughts.

Dialogues
(1763) "Le Chapon et la poularde"

6
Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.The best is the enemy of the good.

Contes
(1772) "La Begueule" l. 2; though often attributed to Voltaire, the notion in fact derives from an Italian proverb quoted in his
Dictionnaire philosophique
(1770 ed.) "Art Dramatique": "
Le meglio è l'inimico del bene
"

7
Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them.

Dictionnaire philosophique
(1764) "Superstition"

8
Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer.If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

Épîtres
no. 96 "A l'Auteur du livre des trois imposteurs".

9
This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

Essai sur l'histoire générale et sur les moeurs et l'esprit des nations
(1756) ch. 70

10
History is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.

L'Ingénu
(1767) ch. 10.

11
Governments need both shepherds and butchers.

"The Piccini Notebooks" (
c.
1735–50) in T. Besterman (ed.)
Voltaire's Notebooks
(2nd ed., 1968) vol. 2

12
God is on the side not of the heavy battalions, but of the best shots.

"The Piccini Notebooks" (
c.
1735–50) in T. Besterman (ed.)
Voltaire's Notebooks
(2nd ed., 1968) vol. 2

13
We owe respect to the living; to the dead we owe only truth.

"Première Lettre sur Oedipe" in
Oeuvres
(1785) vol. 1

14
The composition of a tragedy requires
testicles
.
on being asked why no woman had ever written "a tolerable tragedy"

letter from Byron to John Murray, 2 April 1817

15
The English plays are like their English puddings: nobody has any taste for them but themselves.

Joseph Spence
Anecdotes
(ed. J. M. Osborn, 1966) no. 1033

16
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
to Helvétius, following the burning of De l'esprit in 1759

attributed to Voltaire, but in fact a later summary of his attitude by S. G. Tallentyre in
The Friends of Voltaire
(1907).

17
What a fuss about an omelette!
what Voltaire apparently said on the burning of De l'esprit

James Parton
Life of Voltaire
(1881) vol. 2, ch. 25

18
This is no time for making new enemies.
on being asked to renounce the Devil, on his deathbed

attributed

 
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Walcott, Derek
1930–

1
I who have cursed
The drunken officer of British rule, how choose
Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?

"A Far Cry From Africa" (1962)

2
I come from a backward place: your duty is supplied by life around you. One guy plants bananas; another plants cocoa; I'm a writer, I plant lines. There's the same clarity of occupation, and the sense of devotion.

in
Guardian
12 July 1997

 
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Wa
sa, Lech
1943–

1
You have riches and freedom here but I feel no sense of faith or direction. You have so many computers, why don't you use them in the search for love?

in Paris, on his first journey outside the Soviet area, in
Daily Telegraph
14 December 1988

 
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Walker, Alice
1944–

1
Did this happen to your mother? Did your sister throw up a lot?

title of poem (1979)

2
Expect nothing. Live frugally
on surprise.

"Expect nothing" (1973)

3
The quietly pacifist peaceful
always die
to make room for men
who shout.

"The QPP" (1973)

4
I think it pisses God off if you walk by the colour purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.

The Colour Purple
(1982)

 
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