- Original Title: Candide, ou l’Optimisme
- Author: Voltaire
- Translated: John Butt
- Published: 1759
- Publisher: Penguin Books, 1947
Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles.
Professor Pangloss’s central mantra
The original title of the book is “Candide, ou l’Optimisme,” which has been translated as “Candide; or, The Optimist,” “Candide; Optimism,” “Candide; or, All for the Best” or just “Candide.”
The story is about a man called “Candide.” At an early age, he was indoctrinated with Leibnizian optimism by his life-long mentor, Professor Pangloss. And the story evolves as Candide became slowly disillusioned (enlightened) through his painful hardships and by witnessing miseries in the world.
Leibniz is well-known for his optimistic worldview. Each substance, or monad, is independent, but all substances are in perfect harmony as a whole. Therefore, the universe must be the best possible one. From Pangloss, Candide learned that he lived in this best world among all possible ones. Everything has a cause and effect, and our small hardships are causes of another bigger goodness.
Even with its parodies and mockery, the story is far from lighthearted. The penetrating question is very serious; what is justice and what is good and bad? Moreover, it questions how we accept this world, how we live in it, and how we can find the meaning in life. Candide had endured many hardships from the earthquake (natural) to the war (human-made). The story keeps reminding me of “Job” in the Bible, but Candide was not in the realm of God but on the side of reason. Unlike the blind optimism of Professor Pangloss, Candide maintained his naive optimism, which might be the last straw he can hold in his life as a safeguard against the madness or a disguised despair.
Voltaire was an enlightenment thinker, who criticized Christianity and advocated for freedom and reason. Guided by reason, life is not as clear as it is under religion. Yet, the world is just before us. It is the time to confront reality in order to make this world one of the best possible worlds.
Il faut cultiver notre Jardin.
the famous final line
“We must cultivate our garden.” Is this a retreat from high-level contemplation into labor, or is it progress toward a pragmatic understanding of humanity? Is it a self-imposed hiding place, or an enlightenment found through practical and productive work?
As it has for many readers, the last line of the book drew me into another metaphysical debate. I actually enjoy speculative contemplation, which can arrange my thoughts and make me move forward. But the book raised the direct challenge to this attitude, which, ironically, makes me think more.
Scriptorium 