Common sense is not so common.

Voltaire · Dictionnaire Philosophique (1764). Common Sense

The man who has ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities, and his imaginings for prophecies, is an enthusiast. The man who backs his madness with murder is a fanatic.

Voltaire · The source reads: “The man who has ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities, and his imaginings for prophecies, is an enthusiast. The.”

It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.

Voltaire · Zadig (1747), ch. 6

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Often credited to Voltaire · The sentence is S. G. Tallentyre's summary of Voltaire's attitude, in The Friends of Voltaire, 1906.

Participating in the competition of the big brains has always seemed to me an awful type of slavery, no less evil than the passion for money or power.

Albert Einstein · The source reads: “I no longer need to take part in the competition of the big brains. Participating in the process has always seemed to me to be an awful type of slavery no less evil than the passion for money or power.” · To Paul Ehrenfest, 5 May 1927, on the race for academic promotion.

Cultivate simplicity, Coleridge.

Charles Lamb

Property has its duties as well as its rights.

Thomas Drummond

“Common sense is not so common.”

“The man who has ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities, and his imaginings for prophecies, is an enthusiast. The man who backs his madness with murder is a fanatic.”

“It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.”

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

“Participating in the competition of the big brains has always seemed to me an awful type of slavery, no less evil than the passion for money or power.”

“Cultivate simplicity, Coleridge.”

“Property has its duties as well as its rights.”

We Value Your Opinion Comments