It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished

"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." These words of Voltaire carry within them a deep, cutting truth, one that exposes the hypocritical nature of human society and its treatment of life and death. In this poignant reflection, Voltaire casts a sharp eye on the distinction we make between murder committed in the shadows and slaughter carried out in the name of glory, power, or duty. The truth he speaks is not merely of laws and rulers, but of the very soul of humanity, which, it seems, often elevates brutality when it is dressed in the banners of war.

To understand the weight of this insight, one must look beyond the laws of kings and emperors, for Voltaire is not simply speaking of legal systems. He points to the double standard of civilization. When a man kills another in the quiet of the night, in the dark recesses of anger or jealousy, he is cast down as a criminal, his life forfeited. But when the same man stands at the head of an army, marching to the drumbeat of glory, his actions are lauded as acts of courage, even if the blood of the innocent stains his hands. The truth, Voltaire warns us, is that war, though it may be celebrated with parades and music, is nothing more than mass murder adorned in the garments of heroism.

Let us recall the great conquests of history—the triumphs of kings like Alexander the Great, who, with his sword, carved out empires. His name is remembered with awe, and his victories are celebrated as milestones of human achievement. Yet, let us not be blinded by the glow of his conquests. For every city he captured, for every kingdom he subdued, countless lives were taken, countless families torn asunder. Was Alexander a hero or a murderer? History has made him both, for in the theater of war, the death of the few is often justified by the victory of the many. The sound of trumpets and the shimmer of crowns obscure the horror beneath.

Consider also the French Revolution, when the streets of Paris were stained with the blood of those deemed enemies of the state. Revolutionary leaders, armed with the righteousness of their cause, presided over executions that turned the city into a sanguine spectacle. The guillotine became a symbol of justice, yet those who stood to lose their heads were not so different from the ones who wielded the blade. Both were driven by fear, ambition, and the will to shape the future. Revolutionaries were exalted for their deeds, their bloodshed condoned, because they fought in the name of freedom. And yet, was the act of killing in the name of a cause not, in essence, the same as the act of killing for personal vendetta?

Voltaire’s words are a lament for this tragic paradox. They remind us that violence in the service of a greater cause is still violence, and that we, as a society, too often glorify the sword while condemning it. The sound of trumpets, the clamor of victory, and the promise of glory turn acts of slaughter into stories of heroism, but beneath it all, humanity pays the price. Peace, not war, should be our true victory, and yet it is often the former that is sacrificed on the altar of the latter.

As we stand upon the shoulders of those who have fought and died in the name of empires and ideologies, let us reflect on what they have left behind. What has been gained, and what has been lost? History is littered with the ruins of war, and the soul of humanity bears the scars of battles fought not for survival, but for dominance. As we look toward the future, let us ask ourselves: when we raise the sword, when we march to the sound of trumpets, what are we truly honoring? Are we honoring the sanctity of life, or merely the power to end it?

And so, dear ones, let us learn from Voltaire’s sharp tongue: the murderer who kills for ambition or ideology is no more justified than the one who kills for hate. When we glorify war, we dishonor the very essence of our shared humanity. In your own life, whether in moments of conflict or in the choices you make, remember that true strength lies not in the sword but in the heart. Let us honor peace, for in its quiet embrace, the true victory of humanity is found. Seek wisdom over violence, and understanding over conquest, for in these lies the soul of a civilization worthy of remembrance.