Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary
New York
This book does not demand continuous reading; but at whatever place one
opens it, one will find matter for reflection. The most useful books are
those of which readers themselves compose half; they extend the thoughts
of which the germ is presented to them; they correct what seems
defective to them, and they fortify by their reflections what seems to
them weak.
It is only really by enlightened people that this book can be read; the
ordinary man is not made for such knowledge; philosophy will never be
his lot. Those who say that there are truths which must be hidden from
the people, need not be alarmed; the people do not read; they work six
days of the week, and on the seventh go to the inn. In a word,
philosophical works are made only for philosophers, and every honest man
must try to be a philosopher, without pluming himself on being one.
This alphabet is extracted from the most estimable works which are not
commonly within the reach of the many; and if the author does not always
mention the sources of his information, as being well enough known to
the learned, he must not be suspected of wishing to take the credit for
other people's work, because he himself preserves anonymity, according
to this word of the Gospel: "Let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doeth."
PAGE
PREFACE BY VOLTAIRE 5
ADULTERY 11
ADVOCATE 16
ANCIENTS AND MODERNS 17
ANIMALS 21
ANTIQUITY 24
ARTS 27
ASTROLOGY 29
ATHEISM 32
AUTHORITY 46
AUTHORS 48
BANISHMENT 50
BANKRUPTCY 51
BEAUTY 53
BISHOP 55
BOOKS 57
BOULEVERD 60
BOURGES 61
BRAHMINS 62
CHARACTER 65
CHARLATAN 68
CIVIL LAWS 73
CLIMATE 74
COMMON SENSE 78
CONCATENATION OF EVENTS 80
CONTRADICTIONS 83
CORN 85
CROMWELL 88
CUSTOMS 94
DEMOCRACY 96
DESTINY 98
DEVOUT 102
ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY 103
EMBLEM 106
ENGLISH THEATRE, ON THE 110
ENVY 112
EQUALITY 114
EXPIATION 118
EXTREME 122
EZOURVEIDAM 125
FAITH 126
FALSE MINDS 128
FATHERLAND 131
FINAL CAUSES 133
FRAUD 136
FREE-WILL 142
FRENCH 146
FRIENDSHIP 150
HELVETIA 156
HISTORY 157
IGNORANCE 163
IMPIOUS 166
LANGUAGES 178
LAWS 184
LIBERTY 187
LIBRARY 191
LIMITS OF THE HUMAN MIND 194
LOCAL CRIMES 195
LOVE 197
LUXURY 200
MAN 203
MAN IN THE IRON MASK 204
MARRIAGE 210
MASTER 211
MEN OF LETTERS 214
METAMORPHOSIS 216
MILTON, ON THE REPROACH OF PLAGIARISM AGAINST 217
MOHAMMEDANS 220
MOUNTAIN 221
NAKEDNESS 222
NATURAL LAW 224
NATURE 227
NECESSARY 231
NEW NOVELTIES 236
PHILOSOPHER 237
POWER, OMNIPOTENCE 240
PRAYERS 245
PRECIS OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY 247
PREJUDICES 251
RARE 255
REASON 257
RELIGION 259
SECT 267
SELF-ESTEEM 271
SOUL 273
STATES, GOVERNMENTS 294
SUPERSTITION 297
TEARS 299
THEIST 301
TOLERANCE 302
TRUTH 305
TYRANNY 308