As the character Candide explores more of the world, he observes the great irony of optimism, that it is a selfish act even as it is a selfless one to want more for the public good. In Chapter Four Voltaire writes "...and private misfortunes make the public good, so that the more ...
Voltaire 23 votes Subjects: Character 54 Fools have a habit of believing that everything written by a famous author is admirable. For my part I read only to please myself and like only what suits my taste. - Candide 23 votes 55 Four thousand volumes of metaphysics will not teach us what...
VOLTAIRE,Candide It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one. VOLTAIRE,Zadig Divorce is probably of nearly the same date as marriage. I believe, however, that marriage is some weeks the more ancient. VOLTAIRE,Philosophical Dictionary Voltaire- an essay by John ...
21. “Let us read, and let usdance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”―Voltaire 22. The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity.– Voltaire 23. “Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.”...
26. “Optimism,” said Cacambo, “What is that?”“Alas!” replied Candide, “It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.”―Voltaire 27. “Pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong but all the great changes have been accomplished by opt...
My passion for gardening may strike some as selfish, or merely an act of resignation in the face of overwhelming problems that beset the world. It is neither. I have found that each garden is just what Voltaire proposed in Candide: a microcosm of a just and beautiful society. —Andrew Wei...
50. “A hundred times, I thought of killing myself, but I still clung to life. That ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our most fateful traits because is there anything more ridiculous than wanting to continue to carry a load you always want to throw off?”— CandideVoltaire ...
s scientific version of the myth of natural harmony–all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds (all structures well designed for a definite purpose in this case). It is, indeed, the vision of foolish Dr. Pangloss, so vividly satirized by Voltaire in Candide–the world is ...
It is, indeed, the vision of foolish Dr. Pangloss, so vividly satirized by Voltaire in Candide–the world is not necessarily good, but it is the best we could possibly have. — Stephen Jay Gould …... Science quotes on: | Best (467) | Case (102) | Century (319) | Definite (...
Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst. —Voltaire 14 Art, especially the stage, is an area where it is impossible to walk without stumbling. There are in store for you many unsuc...