Quote Of The Day By Voltaire: The Instruction We Find In Books Is Like...

You may never have heard of François-Marie Arouet, but his pen name, Voltaire, is still revered even two centuries after his death. The French historian, poet, satirist, and major Enlightenment figure was born in Paris in 1694. Defying his father's wish that he become a lawyer, Voltaire turned to writing instead, developing a keen wit and a flair for verse. His opinions on religious tolerance and reason over belief were considered outrageous at the time, and his following of deism, the philosophy that God doesn't answer prayers or otherwise interfere in the affairs of mankind,  wasn't well received in religious circles.

Despite his many political and personal struggles — fights, jailings, affairs, exile — Voltaire continued to write prolifically. His collected works span hundreds of volumes, of which the most well-known is the satirical "Candide." His wealth of wise and witty quotes on life, love, and the human condition could have been written just as easily today as in the 18th century. We present one of the best as today's quote of the day.

Voltaire's legacy of philosophy and wit has often been discussed by the generations who followed him. The book "Historical and Critical Memoirs of the Life of M. de Voltaire," by Louis-Mayeul Chaudon, was written in 1786, less than a decade after the iconic writer died. In it, Chaudon quoted this brilliant statement: "The instruction we find in books is like fire; we fetch it from our neighbour, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all."

The simile comparing books to fire is beautifully apt: Like fire, books have the power to illuminate the mind and bring warmth and comfort to the soul. Fire is also more powerful as it spreads, just as the ideas we gain from reading can be shared and create widespread enlightenment.

As someone who read even more often than he wrote, Voltaire knew the power that lies within the covers. His quote about books is a comment not only on the wisdom that can be gleaned from reading, but on the importance of passing along that wisdom. Like a torch used to ignite the torches of others, books are meant to be read and discussed by as many people over as many generations as possible. Only then can new ideas be born, new laws be passed, constructive changes be made, and old prejudices and outdated notions be eliminated.

That's not to say these changes come easily. Voltaire was variously adored and despised by the French court; his works were censored and banned, and the writer himself was arrested and jailed on more than one occasion. Yet despite the author's controversial nature, Voltaire's works are still considered classics of literature and philosophy. His "Candide" was adapted into an operetta by Leonard Bernstein in 1956 and still remains popular today.

The quote also speaks to Voltaire's belief that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery where writing is concerned. He was accused of cribbing from such great writers as Virgil and Shakespeare, but Voltaire pointed out that ideas are meant to be shared and re-imagined by fellow creators. In fact, the full quote begins: "Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another" (via Goodreads).

• "Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats."
• "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
• "Optimism...is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst."
• "The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
• "Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours."