Voltaire
1694–1778 · French · Enlightenment
Known for: The sharpest wit of the Enlightenment who championed tolerance, mocked the powerful, and got imprisoned in the Bastille twice for his trouble
Brilliant, fearless, and savagely funny. Imprisoned in the Bastille twice, exiled to England, he became enormously wealthy from investments and used his fame to fight injustice.
His 20,000+ letters reveal warmth alongside cutting sarcasm. He fought religious intolerance and judicial abuse with wit as his primary weapon.
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