The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.

He broke from the tradition of narrating diplomatic and military events and emphasized customs social history and achievements in the arts and sciences. Fearing an indefinite prison sentence Voltaire suggested that he be exiled to England as an alternative punishment which the French authorities accepted. Nevertheless he continued to write producing essays and historical studies.

[clarification needed] As a satirical polemicist he frequently made use of his works to criticize intolerance religious dogma and the French institutions of his day. Voltaire was a versatile writer producing works in almost every literary form including plays poems novels essays and historical and scientific works. swa ma.