a seemingly never-ending
from: ppx Voltaire, the greatest man of letters France produced in the eighteenth century, always found himself at odds with the local aristocracy. Voltaire was obviously a man of great talent, yet was surrounded by dolts who commanded much more power and respect than he. He spent his life toadying to the rich and powerful, and they wholeheartedly rejected him. Fortunately, he was able to derive some satisfaction by verbally thrashing his opponents. Yes, thrashing. Lord Macauley opined that "of all the intellectual weapons that have ever been wielded by man, the most terrible was the mockery of Voltaire. Bigots and tyrants who had never been moved by the wailings and cursings of millions, turned pale at his name." Unable to respond, his targets instead initiated a seemingly never-ending series of public beatings. lifted from this website |
