Common sense is not so common. — Voltaire | Printable Wall Art

“Common sense is not so common.”

Words by Voltaire (1694-1778) — French Enlightenment writer and philosopher.

About this quote

This observation highlights an ironic truth about human behaviour. While we assume basic good judgement and sound reasoning are shared by everyone, practical experience often proves otherwise. Voltaire suggests that clear, logical thinking is actually a rare quality. It encourages us to cultivate critical thought rather than assuming that popular opinions or standard actions are inherently sensible.

The phrase appeared in French as 'Le sens commun n'est pas si commun' in Voltaire's 1764 work, the Philosophical Dictionary. It remains one of his most frequently quoted reflections from the Age of Enlightenment.

People often display this quote in a home office or study, bringing a touch of quiet humour to daily work.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.