Candide
Voltaire1759
Voltaire demolished philosophical optimism — the idea that this is "the best of all possible worlds" — in 90 savage pages.
satirical novellaFrenchaccessibleshort · ~3.0h
Influence
7.0/10
Popularity
8.0/10
“We must cultivate our garden.”
Why It Matters
Voltaire demolished philosophical optimism — the idea that this is "the best of all possible worlds" — in 90 savage pages. It is the funniest, most efficient piece of satire in Western literature, and its final line about cultivating your garden became a permanent shorthand for pragmatism over ideology. Every satirical novel since owes it something.
The 
Take
Personal reviewKiller little novella. Poignant, tinge of humor, super simple philosophical bent
Notable Quotes
“In this best of all possible worlds, all is for the best.”
“I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life.”