Yet the struggle of a man against a priesthood, an individual against an institution, a life against eighteen centuries, was by no means destitute of courage.
VII.
There is an incalculable power of conviction and devotion of idea, in the daring of one against all.

To brave at once, with no other power than individual reason, with no other support than conscience, human consideration, that cowardice of the mind, masked under respect for error; to dare the hatred of earth and the anathema of heaven, is the heroism of the writer.

Voltaire was not a martyr in his body, but he consented to be one in his name, and devoted it during his life and after his death.

He condemned his own ashes to be thrown to the winds, and not to have either an asylum or a tomb.

He resigned himself even to lengthened exile in exchange for the liberty of a free combat.