Description
This book is a philosophical novella by the French writer Voltaire, titled Candide, ou l’Optimisme (Candide, or Optimism). It is a satirical work that mercilessly mocks the optimistic philosophy of Leibniz and other thinkers who claimed that “all is for the best” in the world. The story follows the naive protagonist, Candide, as he endures a series of absurd and horrific misfortunes while clinging to the optimistic belief taught by his tutor, Dr. Pangloss.
Through Candide’s misadventures, which include wars, natural disasters, and betrayal, Voltaire critiques religious and political hypocrisy, human cruelty, and the folly of blind optimism. The book is a fast-paced, humorous, and dark journey that ultimately concludes with Candide’s famous line, “Il faut cultiver notre jardin” (“we must cultivate our garden”), a call to focus on practical work rather than abstract philosophical debates.
