Voltaire quotes on freedom of speech and democracy

If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize. Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom. So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.

The right to free speech is more important than the content of the speech.

Voltaire quote i may not agree

It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere. Those who can be made to believe absurdities can be made to commit atrocities. Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said. The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood. You have no control over the hand that life deals you, but how you play that hand is entirely up to you.

Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others, to persecute those who do reason.