I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.

J'ai toujours fait une prière à Dieu, qui est fort courte. La voici: Mon Dieu, rendez nos ennemis bien ridicules! Dieu m'a exaucé.

Voltaire

More information about this quote

Topic

Enemies

Author

Voltaire

Medium

Letter

Language

French

Time

1767 1760s 18th century

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Voltaire. Letter to Etienne Noel Damilaville. 16 May 1767.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Voltaire

In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other.

Voltaire

Philosophical Dictionary

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More information about this quote
Topic
Purpose of government

Author

Voltaire
Source
Philosophical Dictionary
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1764 1760s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Voltaire. "Argent [Money]." Dictionnaire Philosophique [Philosophical Dictionary]. c. 1764.

Another quote from the 1760s

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms his strength into right, and obedience into duty.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of power

Author

Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Source
The Social Contract
Genre
Political literature Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1762 1760s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Du contrat social ou Principes du droit politique [On the Social Contract or Principles of Political Law]. Amsterdam: Marc Michel Rey, 1762, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. "Of the Social Contract." Of the Social Contract and Other Political Writings, translated by Quintin Hoare. Penguin Classics, 2012, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Another quote about Enemies

Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

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More information about this quote
Topic
Self-knowledge Enemies

Author

Sun Tzu
Source
The Art of War
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Military treatise
Statement Type
Advice
Language
Chinese
Time
475 BC 470s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 3.

Another quote originally in French

To laugh is proper to man.

Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel

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More information about this quote
Topic
Laughter

Author

Francois Rabelais
Source
Gargantua and Pantagruel
Medium
Novel
Genre
Satirical fiction Satire
Language
French
Time
1534 1530s 16th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Rabelais, Francois [published as Alcofribas Nasier]. Les horribles et épouvantables faits et prouesses du très renommé Pantagruel Roi des Dipsodes, fils du Grand Géant Gargantua [The Horrible and Terrifying Deeds and Words of the Very Renowned Pantagruel King of the Dipsodes, Son of the Great Giant Gargantua]. Vol. 1, 1532, bk. 1, prefatory note.

Current Citation

Rabelais, Francois. Gargantua & Pantagruel. Dover Publications, 2016, bk. 1, prefatory note.