Candide

Candide (1759) is a short novel by the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.

Sardonic in outlook, it follows the naive protagonist Candide from his first exposure to the precept that "all is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds," and on through a series of adventures that dramatically disprove that precept even as the protagonist clings to it. The novel satirizes the philosophy of Gottfried Leibniz. In "Candide", Leibniz is represented by the philospher Dr. Pangloss, the tutor of the title character. Despite a series of misfortunes and misadventures, Pangloss continually asserts that "tout est au mieux" ("everything is for the best") and the he lives in "le meilleur des mondes possibles" ("the best of all possible worlds).

Voltaire never openly admitted to having written the controversial Candide. The work is signed with a pseudonym: "Monsieur le docteur Ralph," literally "Mr. Dr. Ralph."

Leonard Bernstein based an operetta (1956) on Voltaire's story. For information on this, please see panglossianism- dystopia

Memorable passages of Candide

• The one which begins with the Venetian senator Pococurante's summing up for his visitors his views of the authors whose works comprise his library.
  
  << Les sots admirent tout dans un auteur estimé. Je ne lis que pour moi ; je n'aime que ce qui est à mon usage. >> Candide, qui avait été élevé à ne jamais juger de rien par lui-même, était fort étonné de ce qu'il entendait ; et Martin trouvait la façon de penser de Pococuranté assez raisonnable.
  
  English translation:
  
  "Fools admire everything in an author of reputation. For my part, I read only to please myself. I like only that which serves my purpose." Candide, having been educated never to judge for himself, was much surprised at what he heard. Martin found there was a good deal of reason in Pococurante's remarks.