Philosophical Dictionary, by Voltaire   There is not a single
prince in Europe who does not assume the title of sovereign of a
country possessed by his neighbor. This political madness is
unknown in the rest of the world. The king of Boutan never
called himself emperor of China; nor did the sovereign of
Tartary ever assume the title of king of Egypt.  The most
splendid and comprehensive pretensions have always been those of
the popes; two keys, saltier, gave them clear and decided
possession of the kingdom of heaven. They bound and unbound
everything on earth. This ligature made them masters of the
continent; and St. Peter’s nets gave them the dominion of the
seas.  Many learned theologians thought, that when these gods
were assailed by the Titans, called Lutherans, Anglicans, and
Calvinists, etc., they themselves reduced some articles of their
pretensions. It is certain that many of them became more modest,
and that their celestial court attended more to propriety and
decency; but their pretensions were rene