Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that many people spend their lives waiting for the right moment to truly live rather than enjoying the present.
Voltaire’s quote emphasizes the tendency of individuals to postpone their joy and fulfillment in life by placing their hopes on future events or conditions. It critiques the habit of living in constant anticipation and expectation, suggesting that true living is found in embracing the present moment instead of waiting for life to start. By doing so, it invites reflection on how we prioritize our time and experiences.
Themes
ExpectationLivingPresentPhilosophyJoy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about living in the moment during a personal development seminar.
More from Voltaire
All quotes →He 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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