Candido, o El Optimismo

by Voltaire

"Candido, o El Optimismo" by Voltaire is a French satirical novella first published in 1759. Young Candide lives a sheltered life in paradise, taught Leibnizian optimism by his mentor Professor Pangloss, who preaches that "all is for the best" in the "best of all possible worlds." This lifestyle abruptly ends, thrusting Candide into a series of hardships that slowly disillusion him. Through bitter humor and a fast-moving plot, Voltaire ridicules religion, governments, and philosophical optimism itself, ultimately advocating the practical wisdom: "we must cultivate our garden."