"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" is a quote from French philosopher Voltaire.

The story behind the answer

False. The famous line is not Voltaire’s; it was written in 1906 by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who used the pen name S. G. Tallentyre, in her book The Friends of Voltaire. She crafted the sentence to summarize Voltaire’s stance on free expression during the Helvétius controversy—not to quote his exact words.

The misattribution stuck because the phrase neatly captures Voltaire’s reputation as a fierce defender of free thought. To remember the truth, think: “Hall said it all.” Voltaire did champion tolerance and liberty, but his authentic phrasing differs, e.g., “Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too.” Understanding this helps us separate historical fact from neat-sounding myths—a vital skill in studying history.