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Show Notes
Born François-Marie Arouet, the French thinker known as Voltaire was a defining figure of the Enlightenment who excelled as a writer, historian, and philosopher. He gained international fame for his sharp wit and tireless defense of civil liberties, including the separation of church and state and the freedom of religion. Despite facing imprisonment in the Bastille and frequent exile for his provocative views, he produced a massive body of work spanning plays, poetry, and philosophical novellas like Candide. His intellectual journey included a productive period at the Château de Cirey with Émilie du Châtelet and a complicated relationship with Frederick the Great in Prussia. Later in life, he became a celebrated humanitarian activist, using his influence to overturn wrongful convictions and fight religious intolerance. Even today, he is honored as a pioneer of the French Revolution and a foundational voice for modern human rights.