“People have declaimed against luxury for two thousand years, in verse and in prose, and people have always delighted in it.”
This sharp observation comes from the brilliant mind of Voltaire. He was a leading figure of the French Enlightenment. With this single sentence, he captures a fundamental human paradox. We publicly criticize excess while privately craving it. This timeless statement reveals a deep truth about our nature. It explores the tension between our stated values and our actual desires. Indeed, the quote remains as relevant today as it was in the 18th century.
Voltaire masterfully points out a persistent hypocrisy. For millennia, philosophers, poets, and moralists have condemned luxury. They called it a source of corruption, weakness, and societal decay. Yet, at the same time, humanity has consistently pursued and enjoyed opulence. This contradiction is not a flaw of a specific era. Instead, it is a core part of the human experience. We admire simplicity but are drawn to comfort and beauty. Voltaire doesn’t just state a fact; he invites us to examine our own inconsistencies.
The Source and Its Context
Many attribute this quote to Voltaire’s influential Dictionnaire philosophique (Philosophical Dictionary). Source He first published this work in 1764. The book challenged the authority of the church and monarchy. Voltaire used wit and irony to promote reason and tolerance. In the entry for “Luxe” (Luxury), he explored the topic with his characteristic insight.
During the Enlightenment, luxury was a hotly debated subject. Some thinkers, following ancient traditions, saw it as morally corrosive. They believed it weakened nations and distracted citizens from civic duty. However, a new school of thought was emerging. Economists and philosophers like Bernard Mandeville and later Adam Smith argued differently. They suggested that the pursuit of luxury, while seemingly a private vice, could produce public benefits. For example, it could drive commerce, create jobs, and fuel economic progress. Voltaire firmly sided with this latter group. He saw luxury as an engine of innovation and prosperity, not a moral failing.
Unpacking the Defense of Luxury
Voltaire’s perspective was both pragmatic and progressive for his time. He argued that what one generation considers a luxury, the next deems a necessity. This observation highlights the dynamic nature of progress. For instance, things like comfortable clothing or efficient tools were once luxuries. They eventually became common standards of living. Therefore, condemning luxury was akin to condemning progress itself. He believed that the desire for better things pushed society forward.
Furthermore, Voltaire challenged the idea that a simple, austere life was inherently virtuous. He saw the arts, sciences, and refined crafts as products of a society that valued more than mere survival. These pursuits, funded and encouraged by a taste for luxury, enriched human culture. In his view, a world without luxury would be a world without great art, architecture, and intellectual advancement. He celebrated the human impulse to create and enjoy beautiful things. This impulse, consequently, fueled the very civilization that moralists claimed to defend.
The Quote’s Enduring Relevance Today
Voltaire’s words echo powerfully in our modern world. We live in an age of unprecedented consumerism. Social media constantly showcases lifestyles of incredible wealth and opulence. Simultaneously, there is a growing discourse about minimalism, sustainable living, and the ethics of consumption. People publicly champion anti-consumerist values. Yet, the global luxury goods market continues to expand year after year.
This modern paradox is exactly what Voltaire described. An influencer might post about the importance of simple living one day. The next day, they might promote a high-end fashion brand. We see widespread criticism of billionaires and wealth inequality. However, society remains fascinated by their lifestyles. The sales of luxury cars, designer clothing, and exclusive gadgets continue to climb. This demonstrates that our collective delight in luxury often outweighs our philosophical objections to it.