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Meaning
This compares nature’s steady movement with human fallibility, and the contrast sharpens the warning. It can be taken to mean that people often reach mistakes faster than they reach wisdom, almost by habit, impulse, or overconfidence. It lands when someone makes a rushed choice and only afterward sees how quickly things went wrong.
When It Was Said
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Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
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Did You Know?
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About Voltaire
French Enlightenment writer and philosopher of the 18th century, he is best known for his wit and sharp critiques of religious intolerance and absolutism. His works, including *Candide* and *Treatise on Toleration*, remain influential for their blend of satire and philosophical inquiry.
More from Voltaire (235 quotes) →More quotes by Voltaire
- “Reading nurtures the soul, and an enlightened friend brings it solace.”Voltaire
- “I die adoring God, loving my friends, not hating my enemies, and detesting superstition.”Voltaire
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- “The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it.”Voltaire
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Books by Voltaire
Candide
2015
Zadig
2009
Dictionnaire philosophique
2010
The portable Voltaire
1949
Treatise on Toleration
2016