Who said “If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there…”?

Verified

Voltaire. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetters on England, letter 6, "On the Presbyterians", trans. Leonard Tancock (Penguin Books, 1980) p. 41, published first in English in 1733

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“If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.”
— Voltaire
VerifiedLetters on England, letter 6, "On the Presbyterians", trans. Leonard Tancock (Penguin Books, 1980) p. 41, published first in English in 1733 · evidenceMulticulturalism

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letters on England, letter 6, "On the Presbyterians", trans. Leonard Tancock (Penguin Books, 1980) p. 41, published first in English in 1733.

APA

Voltaire (n.d.). If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29964-if-there-were-only-one-religion-in-england/

MLA

Voltaire. “If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29964-if-there-were-only-one-religion-in-england/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Voltaire. “If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29964-if-there-were-only-one-religion-in-england/.

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