Who said “May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.”?

Misattributed

Not Voltaire. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Voltaire; no source in their known works.

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APA

“May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.” [Quotation attributed to Voltaire]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18999-may-god-defend-me-from-my-friends-i/

MLA

“May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18999-may-god-defend-me-from-my-friends-i/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18999-may-god-defend-me-from-my-friends-i/.

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