The prodigious writer penned over 2,000 books, 20,000 letters, and an unknown number of shopping lists. Although its subject matter has become somewhat dated, Candide remains a funny read as well as one of Western civilization’s most influential novels.Ĭandide is only the tip of the Voltaire iceberg. Taken in context, Candide is a rejection of the philosophical optimism of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a parody of the romantic clichés prevalent during Voltaire’s time, and a commentary on recent events such as the Great Lisbon Earthquake and Seven Years’ War. Taken out of context Candide is the meandering adventure of a well-meaning if not somewhat goofy fellow who is optimistic to a fault. Voltaire is best known for his novella Candide, ou l’Optimisme. (His most pointed attacks were aimed at the Catholic Church, given its dominance within the Kingdom of France, although he was by no means an atheist.) As a historian, philosopher, polemicist, and pen pal to numerous important figures of his time, Voltaire was a vehement advocate for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, civil liberties, and the separation of church and state. ![]() Why should you, an extremely intelligent – and, for that matter, attractive – person care about Voltaire quotes?įrançois-Marie Arouet (1694 – 1778), who is better known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was one of the most prolific writers of the French Enlightenment. “To name Voltaire is to characterize the entire eighteenth century.”
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