“Theinstruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours,kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property ofall.” – Voltaire

Bornin France on this date in 1694, François-Marie Arouet (known as Voltaire) was one of history’s great thinkers, writers, historians and philosophers, famous forhis wit and his advocacy of freedom of religion and freedom of speech.    Voltaireproduced some 2,000 books and pamphlets, wrote plays, poems, essays andhistorical and scientific works, and more than 20,000 letters.  And he wasan outspoken advocate of civil liberties, despite the risk it placed on himwith the French monarchy. 

Oftencredited with a quote that serves as a foundation for our 1stAmendment – “I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death yourright to say it.” – he said that what he really said (or wrote) was:  "I detest what you write, but I wouldgive my life to make it possible for you to continue to writeit."  Fluentin five languages, including English, he also was a voracious reader and oftensaid it was the thoughts and ideas of others that were the basis for his ownwritings.  

“Originality,” said Voltaire, “is nothing butjudicious imitation. The most original writers have always borrowed one fromanother.”