This quote by Voltaire highlights the paradoxical nature of legal disputes. Losing a lawsuit can bring obvious financial or reputational damage, but winning one is not necessarily a triumph either—often, the costs, both emotional and financial, can be overwhelming. Voltaire’s statement underscores the idea that litigation, regardless of outcome, can have detrimental effects. It serves as a critique of the justice system, hinting that sometimes the pursuit of legal victory can result in an overall loss, emphasizing the importance of weighing the true cost of legal actions beyond the verdict itself.
“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.”
“After all, it is no more surprising to me to be born twice than it is to be born once.”
“Once the people begin to reason, all is lost. ”
“He was my equal in beauty, a paragon of grace and charm, sparkling with wit, and burning with love. I adored him to distraction, to the point of idolatry: I loved him as one can never love twice.”
“What can be feared when one is doing one's duty? I know the rage of my enemies. I know all their slanders; but when one only tries to do good to men and when one does not offend heaven, one can fear nothing, neither during life nor after death.”
“Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.”