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His quote underscores the perilous connection between irrational beliefs and destructive actions, an infamous dynamic that has been exploited throughout history and remains a pressing concern today around the world.

6 min readJan 24, 2025

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The famous French philosopher and writer, Voltaire, is known for his various works from poetry to stories to essays in the 18th century but Voltaire’s quote, “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities,” carries a profound meaning for the modern world in 2025. It serves as both a warning and a call to be vigilant against the forces of misinformation, manipulation, lies, and prejudice. His quote underscores the perilous connection between irrational beliefs and destructive actions, an infamous dynamic that has been exploited throughout history and remains a pressing concern today around the world.

At its core, Voltaire’s quote on ‘absurdities causing atrocities’ highlights the susceptibility of human beings to believe falsehoods when they are presented compellingly and repeatedly particularly by figures of authority or influence or power. In the digital age of social media and instant communications, this vulnerability is amplified by the…

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The Life and Times of Ben Weinberg
The Life and Times of Ben Weinberg

Written by The Life and Times of Ben Weinberg

English Teacher, Entrepreneur, World Traveler, and Writer from New York.

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