Voltaire was a fiery critic of the Roman Catholic Church, superstition, and the French government's strict censorship policies. His sharp satire often landed him in trouble, resulting in:
François-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), better known by his pen name , was one of the defining voices of the French Enlightenment. A prolific writer, satirist, and philosopher, he used wit and intellect to champion civil liberties, religious tolerance, and the separation of church and state.
Here is a look at the life and legacy of this iconic thinker.
Born into a wealthy bourgeois family in Paris, Arouet received a solid education from Jesuits, but quickly rejected his father's legal career path. Around 1718, he adopted the pen name "Voltaire." This change likely served a dual purpose: to distinguish himself from his background and to secure a reputation for himself outside the constraints of his original family name.