Misquote

[moe.ron]

Just found out an interesting info. The famous saying by Voltaire "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it" it seem was never said.
Voltaire real name is Francois Marie Arouet. And the quote is a paraphrase "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." The paraphrase was made by Evelyn Beatrice Hall under the pseudonym S[tephen] G. Tallentyre. It was from the book The Friends of Voltaire (1906). She wrote:
.
..The men who had hated [the book], and had not particularly loved Helvetius, flocked round him now. Voltaire forgave him all injuries, intentional or unintentional. 'What a fuss about an omelette!' he had exclaimed when he heard of the burning. How abominably unjust to persecute a man for such an airy trifle as that! 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,' was his attitude now. But he soon came, as a Voltaire would come, to swearing that there was no more materialism in 'On the Mind' than in Locke, and a thousand more daring things in 'The Spirit of Laws.'

Interesting on the history of misquote.

[SATX*APhi]

Wow, this is widely misquoted. I always thought it was Voltaire. A friend of mine who goes to Harvard and I were discussing Voltaire one day and even he quoted that as Voltaire.

[Optimist Prime]

ONe day i was reading in a book of quoates and that one was in there as Volatires friend. But let's not forget, it was probablly said in French.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
ONe day i was reading in a book of quoates and that one was in there as Volatires friend. But let's not forget, it was probablly said in French.

This is great news! Now I can say it and be widely quoted. Maybe even famous.