The pen name of Voltaire belongs to François-Marie Arouet, prolific writer of the French Enlightenment of the 18th century. He makes extensive use of wit and satire to attack the status quo and argue for social and economic reform. His thoughts and writings are believed to have been influential in shaping the actors in both the American and French revolutions of the same century.
En général, l’art du gouvernement consiste à prendre le plus d’argent qu’on peut à une grande partie des citoyens, pour le donner à une autre partie.
Translates to: In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
- Voltaire1
Dictionnaire philosophique, p. [...]
On en trouve [l'argent] toujours quand il s’agit d’aller faire tuer des hommes sur la frontière: il n’y en a plus quand il faut les sauver.
Translates to: Money is always to be found when men are to be sent to the frontiers to be destroyed: when the object is to preserve them, it is no [...]