The Life of Voltaire

François-Marie Arouet, known by his pen name Voltaire, was born on 21 November 1694 in Paris, France. Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, criticism of Christianity—especially the Roman Catholic Church—and advocacy of freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and freedom of religion.

Voltaire's prolific output was vast and covered a range of topics including history, science, and politics. He was known for his biting wit and relentless critique of authoritarianism. His ability to combine sarcasm with serious philosophical inquiries made him a central figure of the Enlightenment.

Some of Voltaire's most famous works include "Candide", "Zadig", and "The Letters on England". Through his works, Voltaire championed reason and the pursuit of empirical evidence, which were hallmarks of Enlightenment thinking.

Voltaire passed away on 30 May 1778, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence thinkers and leaders the world over.

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