Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
In every author let us distinguish the man from his works.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Recognize the distinction between an author's personal character and the content of their work.
Voltaire's quote emphasizes the importance of separating the creator from their creations. It suggests that while an author may have personal flaws or controversial views, this should not detract from the value or quality of their literary works. Understanding this distinction allows readers to engage with the text itself rather than be influenced solely by the author's character or personal life.
Themes
AuthorWorksDistinctionLiteratureCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about a controversial author, one might quote Voltaire to remind others to focus on the literature rather than the author's personal life.
More from Voltaire
All quotes βHe was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
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It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
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It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
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We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.
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I was a stray acquaintance whom he had never seem before and would never see again, a wandered for a moment through his monotonous life, and some starved impulse left him to lay bare his soul. I have in this way learned more about men in a night than I could if I had known them for 10 years. If you are interested in human nature, it is one of the greatest pleasures of travel.
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