# Voltaire — Beyond Good and Evil character guide

> Voltaire in Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Voltaire

**First appearance:** 0002-i-prejudices-of-philosophers

## Who they are

French Enlightenment writer referenced for his wit and philosophical stance.

## In the story

### [II: The Free Spirit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/ii-the-free-spirit)

Invoked sarcastically ('O Voltaire! O humanity! O idiocy!') in a critique of the humane, moralistic search for truth that seeks it only 'to do good,' which the narrator claims finds nothing.

### [The Philosopher's Descent: Studying the Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/26)

Mentioned as a comparative figure to highlight Galiani's greater profundity and consequent silence.

### [Chapter 35](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/35)

Explicitly named as the archetype of a humane, morally-driven ('for the good') seeker of truth, which the narrator condemns as foolish.

### [216](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/216)

Referenced indirectly via 'Voltairean bitterness against religion,' representing a past, overtly antagonistic freethinker attitude now superseded.

### [The Historical Sense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/224)

Described as the last echo of the 17th century, sharing its difficulty in appropriating and enjoying Homer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/characters/voltaire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/characters