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

This quote by Voltaire speaks to the value of appreciating the living and being honest about the dead. Respect for the living is important in order to keep a healthy and operating society. We should deal with each other with compassion and understanding, and recognize the value of each individual. On the other hand, when it concerns the dead, we need to be sincere and honest. We need to not embellish or misshape the fact in order to make them look much better than they were. We should remember that the truth is the only thing that will stay after they are gone. This quote reminds us that we need to be considerate and sincere in our transactions with both the living and the dead.