On doit des égards aux vivants ; on ne doit aux morts… — Voltaire | Printable Wall Art

“On doit des égards aux vivants ; on ne doit aux morts que la vérité.”
“We owe respect to the living; to the dead we owe only the truth.”

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

About this quote

While we should show politeness and consideration to the living to maintain social harmony, our duty to those who have died is absolute honesty. We must not flatter or rewrite history to protect the reputations of the dead. True respect for the past requires telling the truth without sentimentality, ensuring that history remains accurate rather than falsely flattering.

This line comes from Voltaire's first letter on his play Oedipe, published in 1719. It reflects the early French Enlightenment emphasis on rationalism, historical truth, and freedom from unearned deference to traditional figures.

People often hang this in a study or library, where rigorous thinking and truthful reflection are valued.

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
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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.