Although the 18th century writer Voltaire is widely recognized as an opponent of religion, calling Christianity an "infamy" to be destroyed, even he found the influence of faith to be useful. He wrote, "I want my attorney, my tailor, my servants, even my wife to believe in God. . . then I shall be robbed and cuckolded less often." Myers tells of how Voltaire once silenced a discussion on atheism until he had excused his servants, lest in forfeiting their faith they might lose their morality.