Who said “We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Voltaire, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Voltaire.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

APA

“We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.” [Quotation attributed to Voltaire]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26866-we-never-live-we-are-always-in-the/

MLA

“We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26866-we-never-live-we-are-always-in-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26866-we-never-live-we-are-always-in-the/.

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