Letters on England Discussion Questions
Voltaire’s Letters on England
1. Why hasn’t the Quaker religion continued to grow?
Voltaire highlights on the different and interesting ways of the Quaker religion. He seems even favorable to them despite his feelings towards organized religion. If the religion was so great, how come it hasn’t grown? The other religions Voltaire highlights on have done so. What made the Quaker religion not prosper?
2. Why were the governments of France and England so vastly different?
Voltaire stated that “the French think that the government of this island is stormier than the seas that surround it.” Voltaire admitted that England’s government wasn’t perfect, but they fought for things that mattered like freedom. He also said “the civil wars in France have been longer, more cruel, productive of greater crimes than those of England…”
3. How did trade set England apart from other countries?
France and Germany didn’t see much substance in trade. This is another difference between them and the English.
4. Why didn’t France adopt England and Turkey’s idea of a “vaccination”?
As Voltaire stated, many lives could have been saved if the French had given their children small pox to begin with. This was the first idea of a vaccine. By the child getting the disease early on the body knows how to fight it off if the person comes in contact with the disease again.
5. Was it France’s government that stopped great thinkers from discovering or writing about new ideas?
England was the home to great thinkers like Newton and Locke. Was it the difference in government that allowed people to think more out of the
1. Why hasn’t the Quaker religion continued to grow?
Voltaire highlights on the different and interesting ways of the Quaker religion. He seems even favorable to them despite his feelings towards organized religion. If the religion was so great, how come it hasn’t grown? The other religions Voltaire highlights on have done so. What made the Quaker religion not prosper?
2. Why were the governments of France and England so vastly different?
Voltaire stated that “the French think that the government of this island is stormier than the seas that surround it.” Voltaire admitted that England’s government wasn’t perfect, but they fought for things that mattered like freedom. He also said “the civil wars in France have been longer, more cruel, productive of greater crimes than those of England…”
3. How did trade set England apart from other countries?
France and Germany didn’t see much substance in trade. This is another difference between them and the English.
4. Why didn’t France adopt England and Turkey’s idea of a “vaccination”?
As Voltaire stated, many lives could have been saved if the French had given their children small pox to begin with. This was the first idea of a vaccine. By the child getting the disease early on the body knows how to fight it off if the person comes in contact with the disease again.
5. Was it France’s government that stopped great thinkers from discovering or writing about new ideas?
England was the home to great thinkers like Newton and Locke. Was it the difference in government that allowed people to think more out of the