"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong"

This quote by Voltaire is a cautioning to those who attempt to challenge the status quo. It implies that when one is best in matters that the recognized authorities are wrong about, they might be consulted with resistance and even danger. This is due to the fact that those in power may not want to be proven wrong and might attempt to suppress the truth. Voltaire is warning people to be knowledgeable about the dangers of speaking up versus the accepted beliefs of the time. He is also motivating individuals to believe on their own and to not hesitate to stand up for what they think is right, even if it breaks the accepted standards. Eventually, Voltaire is advocating for the power of reality and the importance of defending what is right, even if it suggests going against the recognized authorities.