304 years ago today, the French playwright, novelist, and poet Voltaire was imprisoned in the Bastille for speaking out against political and religious repression.

However, he used the opportunity to begin writing his first script, and after his release seven months later, he started producing successful plays, like Candide, which made him one of the most popular writers in Europe.

An advocate of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the separation of church and state, he became a forerunner to the American and French Revolutions.

Famous Quotes Include:
“I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”
“Judge a man by his questions, rather than by his answers.”
“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.”
“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.”
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”

In all, Voltaire wrote more than 20,000 sharp-witted letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets, including non-fiction scientific works, having been heavily influenced by Sir Isaac Newton while living in London in exile. 13 years after his death at age 83, when he was denied a Christian burial in his beloved Paris for his lifelong criticism of Church authorities, his remains were brought back to Paris. He was enshrined in the Panthéon by the National Assembly of France, which regarded him as a forefather for the newly successful French Revolution. It is estimated that a million people attended the funeral procession, which stretched throughout the streets of Paris. (1717)