"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth"

Voltaire’s assertion draws a line between our obligations toward the living and those toward the deceased. For those still among us, respect encompasses kindness, empathy, and social decency. The living are capable of feeling both the benefits and the pains of our actions; our behavior directly impacts their well-being. We owe them dignified treatment, ethical consideration, and the acknowledgement of their humanity, for they continue to participate in the shared fabric of daily life and society.

By contrast, our duties toward those who have passed are of a different nature. The dead cannot be harmed or benefited by our gestures, flattery, or condemnation. They no longer possess the faculties to experience praise or humiliation. What remains is their legacy, the mark they left, the consequences of their actions, and the memories retained by the living. According to Voltaire, the chief responsibility in relation to the departed is to tell the truth about them. Truth rectifies history and honors the realistic memory of those gone, rather than distorting it with unearned praise or malicious lies.

This perspective encourages an honest assessment of the past. Glorifying the dead unjustly can perpetuate myths, hinder societal growth, or prevent the recognition of historical harm. Conversely, exposing unwarranted vilification corrects lingering injustices. Honesty about the dead serves as a teaching tool for the living, enabling us to understand both the virtues and failings of our predecessors, and to learn from them without resentment or misplaced admiration.

There is a delicate balance between respect and truth. Truth should not be wielded to inflict cruelty upon mourners, nor suppressed for the sake of false comfort. Ultimately, Voltaire insists that authentic memory is the highest tribute that can be paid to the dead, and that such truthfulness serves both justice and progress among the living.