•Most famous philosophe
•Wrote plays, essays, poetry, philosophy, and books
•Voltaire attacked intolerance in society, politics, and religion.
•Championed social, political, and religious tolerance
•He lived in the court of Frederick the Great for a time, and he was friends with Catherine the Great.
•“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet, known more famously as Voltaire, was the most renowned of the philosophes. A prolific writer, much of his work either satirized or attacked what he called the “relics” of the medieval social order—in particular, the church and the aristocracy. Despite—or perhaps because of—his controversial ideas, he was in high demand at salons not just in France but throughout Europe as well. He lived in the court of Frederick the Great for a time, and he was friends with Catherine the Great.

Above all, Voltaire attacked intolerance in society, politics, and religion. A famous quote usually attributed to Voltaire states, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” He felt that all governments were susceptible to tyranny, but he greatly admired the British model.