Friday Philosophy

Of all the Enlightenment philosophers, I think I like Voltaire (1694-1778) the best, mainly because he makes me laugh (though it is laughter that comes with insight). Here's an example of what I mean:

"Animals have these advantages over man:
they never hear the clock strike, they die
without any idea of death, they have no
theologians to instruct them, their last
moments are not disturbed by unwelcome
and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals
cost them nothing, and no one starts
lawsuits over their wills."