Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume

“We adore each other, and yet are afraid to love; we are consumed with a passion which we both condemn. Zadig””

— Voltaire

“True prayer lies not in asking for a violation of natural law but in the acceptance of natural law as the unchangeable will of God.””

— Voltaire

“They are the winds," replied the hermit, "that swell the sails of the ship; it is true, they sometimes sink her, but without them she could not sail at all. The bile makes us sick and choleric but without the bile we could not live. Everything in this world is dangerous, and yet everything in it is necessary." The””

— Voltaire

“tell her stories to alleviate her inquietude; for stories always amuse the ladies, and it is only by interesting them that one can succeed in the world." Mambres””

— Voltaire

“there is no such thing as chance. All is either a trial, or a punishment, or a reward, or a foresight. Remember the fisherman, who thought himself the most wretched of mankind. Oromazes sent thee to change his fate. Cease then, frail mortal, to dispute against what thou oughtest to adore." "But,””

— Voltaire

“The moment of meeting, and that of parting are the two greatest epochs of life as sayeth the great book of Zend.””

— Voltaire

“What! my lord," cried the fisherman, "and art thou then so unhappy, thou who bestowest favors?" "A hundred times more unhappy than thee," replied Zadig. "But how is it possible," said the good man, "that the giver can be more wretched than the receiver?" "Because," replied Zadig, "thy greatest misery arose from poverty, and mine is seated in the heart." "Did””

— Voltaire

“What then is human life? O virtue, how hast thou served me? Two women have basely deceived me; and now a third, who is innocent, and more beautiful than both the others, is going to be put to death! Whatever good I have done hath been to me a continual source of calamity and affliction; and I have only been raised to the height of grandeur, to be tumbled down the most horrid precipice of misfortune." Filled””

— Voltaire

“When thou eatest, give to the dogs, should they even bite thee.””

— Voltaire