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Literary
June 5, 1809
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
An anecdote recounts how an English gentleman in Paris sabotaged a subscription for a statue honoring Voltaire by composing and circulating a satirical inscription that mocks the philosopher's wit, judgment, and atheistic views, leading to the scheme's defeat.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Some years ago, a number of philosophers, (as they called themselves) who were favorers of Voltaire's atheistical principles, proposed opening a subscription in the city of Paris, for erecting a statue to the poet's memory. The subscription was in great forwardness, and the statuary applied to, when an English gentleman, who happened to be at that time in Paris, defeated the whole scheme, by writing the following inscription, which soon made its way in all the fashionable ruelles of that capital.
Inscription for an intended Statue of Voltaire.
Behold Voltaire deserving of a stone!
Who, in poetry, was great;
In history, little;
Still less in philosophy;
And in religion
Nothing at all.
His wit was acute,
His judgment precipitate,
His dogmatism extreme.
Loose women smiled upon him,
The half learned applauded him,
And the profane patronized him.
'Tho' he spared neither God nor man,
A junto of Atheists,
Who call themselves philosophers,
Scrap'd some money together,
And raised this statue
To his memory.
Inscription for an intended Statue of Voltaire.
Behold Voltaire deserving of a stone!
Who, in poetry, was great;
In history, little;
Still less in philosophy;
And in religion
Nothing at all.
His wit was acute,
His judgment precipitate,
His dogmatism extreme.
Loose women smiled upon him,
The half learned applauded him,
And the profane patronized him.
'Tho' he spared neither God nor man,
A junto of Atheists,
Who call themselves philosophers,
Scrap'd some money together,
And raised this statue
To his memory.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Voltaire
Statue
Satire
Atheism
Philosophers
Inscription
English Gentleman
Literary Details
Title
Inscription For An Intended Statue Of Voltaire.
Subject
Mockery Of Proposed Statue For Voltaire's Atheistical Principles
Key Lines
Behold Voltaire Deserving Of A Stone!
Who, In Poetry, Was Great;
In History, Little;
Still Less In Philosophy;
And In Religion Nothing At All.