How was Voltaire important to Benjamin Franklin?

Voltaire was important to Benjamin Franklin as a significant intellectual influence and a source of inspiration in promoting Enlightenment ideals, such as reason, tolerance, and the pursuit of knowledge. Franklin admired Voltaire's wit and his advocacy for civil liberties, which aligned with Franklin's own beliefs about freedom of expression and the importance of questioning authority. Their correspondence reflected a mutual respect and a shared commitment to social reform and rational thought, which helped shape Franklin's philosophical outlook and contributions to American society.