When Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking,” he was emphasizing the power and importance of critical thinking, reason, and persistence in addressing and overcoming challenges. As a prominent figure in the Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical movement that prioritized reason, skepticism, and scientific inquiry, Voltaire believed that human reason was a powerful tool for understanding and improving the world.
The quote suggests that with determination and sustained intellectual effort, even the most complex and difficult problems can be understood, dissected, and potentially solved. Voltaire’s statement encourages individuals to engage in critical thinking and to apply reason and logic to the challenges they face, rather than relying on superstition, dogma, or blind faith. This idea is consistent with Voltaire’s broader advocacy for free inquiry, rationalism, and the pursuit of knowledge, which were central themes in his writings and philosophical outlook.
