“The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.”

Very clever, the sinner is the most in fear indeed. "When you attack others you have your back to the world [others]" -- G■l■k Zolt■n Leenderdt Franco Buday

I think the best course is to harmonize with the spirit of God - temporally safe or unsafe - that being inclusive of enjoying life and having no fear of death. BUT!, that means having to know the difference between the "spirit" and, corporeal emotions, traditions of our fathers, intellectual persuasions, peer pressures, religion's warm and fuzzies, etc., etc. My conscience would have me be free, abiding liberty and charity, living the laws of nature and of nature's God; - in the current police state society of the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land, abiding liberty is a most UNsafe course to pursue, with death at the hands of enforcing socialists an ever increasing threat (life's enjoyment comes from pursuit of love, truth, faith, knowledge, natural law and all else that is Godly - that taking away any fear of death). I would have given the quote 5 stars if by "against one's conscience" Voltaire meant no sin, transgression or act of iniquity but, it has been my experience that carnal man's conscience can be altered to fit one's pleasures (for example, immediate gratification) and religion (for example, socialism).

Voltaire, always the best of all !!

Remember, God is the potter, and we are the clay. Very well stated Mike, Norwalk. That God might show forth his riches in glory ( knowledge ) upon the vessels of mercy. Hidden riches, in the shadings of the words of the English language. 10 is the base number of the English language. Hence God's statement, by way of king David. Upon an instrument of 10 strings, sing a New Song. Liberty and Freedom. There are 10 words in the first verse. It is a booked designed for the gentiles, to those afar off, an English speaking people. 10 is a proactive number pertaining to, what some term, as the tree of life. ! Israel is blind in Part, until the fullness of the gentiles be come in ! Paul the apostle, the greatest of all, SENT TO US, as an individual and nation under grace, by the God of nature. Hence John 13:20, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I SEND receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me ! The New ( deal ) Covenant , I will put my ( natural ) laws in their minds and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people ! I suspect with a high degree of probability, perfect love, comes by way of following that Good conscience to yourself and to others, in regards to Liberty and Freedom for all. Hence God's statement " Perfect Love casteth out all fear. " Written long before Voltaire was ever born ! We seek after that which Good is. " The Form of the Good " as Plato states, and even before Plato's birth. Peter did carry a sword in the garden, and we are advised to sell our coat and buy one ! to guard our God of nature and the gifts of our inalienable rights ordained By God. Christ came bearing gifts to men ! And the Word was made flesh.
Semper Fi