Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities

“Those Source who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

This chilling warning resonates powerfully across centuries. Voltaire | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy It speaks directly to the terrifying link between irrational thought and violent behavior. When we abandon reason, we often abandon morality as well. Consequently, manipulators can steer crowds toward horrific acts by first severing their grip on reality. This quote reminds us that mental slavery often precedes physical brutality.

Most people attribute this famous line to the French philosopher Voltaire. Indeed, the core idea belongs to him. However, the exact phrasing evolved significantly over time. The journey from his original 18th-century text to our modern bumper stickers reveals much about human history. It shows how we adapt old wisdom to fit new nightmares.

The True Origins in 1765

The authentic source material dates back to 1765. Voltaire published a work titled Collection des Lettres sur les Miracles (Collection of Letters on Miracles). He did not speak in his own voice, however. Instead, he used a fictional character named Mr. Théro to deliver his critiques. This literary device allowed him to explore controversial religious ideas with some safety.

In the eleventh letter of this collection, the original French text appears. Voltaire wrote: “Certainement qui est en droit de vous rendre absurde, est en droit de vous rendre injuste.”

We must look closely at his specific word choice. He used the word “injuste.” This translates simply to “unjust.” Therefore, a literal translation reads: “Certainly, whoever has the right to make you absurd has the right to make you unjust.”

Notably, the word “atrocities” is missing. Voltaire focused on injustice. He described a breakdown of legal and moral fairness. For him, the acceptance of impossible dogmas led directly to unfair persecution. His primary concern was the judicial murder of innocents, such as in the tragic Calas affair.

The Shift From Injustice to Atrocity

How did “unjust” become “atrocities”? The change represents an intensification of the original meaning. While injustice implies unfairness, atrocity implies horrific violence. This linguistic shift mirrors the darkening of human history in the 20th century.

Desmond MacCarthy, a British literary critic, played a pivotal role in this evolution. In 1914, he published a fictional story called “A Hermit’s Day.” In this narrative, he imagined an elderly Voltaire speaking to a guest. MacCarthy’s version of Voltaire declared that men would continue to commit atrocities as long as they believed absurdities.

MacCarthy likely did not intend to misquote the philosopher. Rather, he paraphrased the sentiment to fit a more brutal era. World War I had just begun. The scale of violence was escalating. Consequently, the word “injustice” felt too mild. “Atrocity” captured the visceral horror of modern conflict much better.

The Impact of Totalitarianism

The quote gained true momentum during the 1930s. As totalitarian regimes rose across Europe, the warning felt increasingly urgent. Nazis and Fascists built their power on propaganda. They demanded that citizens accept patent falsehoods about race and history.

Observers quickly connected this demand for irrational belief with the resulting violence. Writers began citing the “atrocities” version of the quote frequently. They saw a direct line between the absurd lies of dictators and the death camps that followed.

Joseph Wood Krutch, writing for Harper’s Magazine in 1933, used the phrase to describe the political climate. He realized that logic acts as a barrier against evil. When leaders destroy logic, they tear down that barrier. Thus, the quote transformed from a critique of religious dogma into a warning against political indoctrination.

Furthermore, the logic holds up psychologically. To commit a mass atrocity, you must first dehumanize the victim. Dehumanization requires accepting absurd premises. You must believe that a specific group of people is the source of all evil. Once you accept that absurdity, the atrocity becomes a “logical” solution.

Modern Usage and Secularism

In recent decades, the quote has found a new home. Secular humanists frequently use it to criticize religious extremism. Richard Dawkins helped popularize this usage in his book The God Delusion. He championed the “atrocities” version as a concise summary of the dangers of blind faith.

However, we should not limit the warning to religion alone. It applies equally to political polarization. In the age of social media, conspiracy theories spread rapidly. These modern absurdities radicalize individuals just as effectively as ancient dogmas.

We see this dynamic in online echo chambers. Partisans believe wild accusations about their opponents. Subsequently, this belief fuels real-world harassment and violence. The mechanism remains unchanged. If you can disable a person’s critical thinking, you can weaponize them.

Conclusion: A Warning for All Times

Voltaire may not have used the exact word “atrocities,” but he understood the principle perfectly. He saw that a mind willing to accept lies is a mind prepared for injustice. Later generations simply sharpened his language to match their own bloody experiences.

Ultimately, the quote serves as a call to arms for our intellect. We must guard our capacity for reason fiercely. We must reject absurdities, regardless of their source. By protecting our ability to think critically, we build a firewall against cruelty. The defense of truth is, in fact, the defense of humanity.

Quote Me, maybe?

the quote G.O.A.T.