Voltaire was a huge advocate for reason. You could say he believed intelligence alone was the ability to question and reason. Though he was deist, he did not prescribe to mainstream religion due to its manipulation. He belive church and state should remain separate due to the Vatican's dominance in world governments even in France's at the time. This is not to say he didn't belive the individual had the right to religion or Express itz but it has no ground in controlling masses let alone governments. He believed the meaning to life is to question oneself and find oneself and also to be happy. He heavily advocated individuals ability to voice their opinion and believed that if any citizen has reason to hate/distrust or bring up concern to the state or church regardless of magnitude of matter they must hear hear that individual out. He was also prisoned for a year for mocking the French government. Also like socrates he believed the pinnacle of intellect is to admit to know nothing the more you are educated. "Judge a man by his questions, rather than by his answers" - Voltaire