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Candide and Philosophical Letters
The story of Candide, a naive youth, who is conscripted, shipwrecked, robbed, and tortured by the Inquisition without losing his will to live is accompanied by imaginary letters on various themes
158 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
26 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
Voltaire
9,419 books4,937 followersComplete works (1880) : https://archive.org/details/oeuvresco...
In 1694, Age of Enlightenment leader Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. Jesuit-educated, he began writing clever verses by the age of 12. He launched a lifelong, successful playwriting career in 1718, interrupted by imprisonment in the Bastille. Upon a second imprisonment, in which Francois adopted the pen name Voltaire, he was released after agreeing to move to London. There he wrote Lettres philosophiques (1733), which galvanized French reform. The book also satirized the religious teachings of Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal, including Pascal's famed "wager" on God. Voltaire wrote: "The interest I have in believing a thing is not a proof of the existence of that thing." Voltaire's French publisher was sent to the Bastille and Voltaire had to escape from Paris again, as judges sentenced the book to be "torn and burned in the Palace." Voltaire spent a calm 16 years with his deistic mistress, Madame du Chatelet, in Lorraine. He met the 27 year old married mother when he was 39. In his memoirs, he wrote: "I found, in 1733, a young woman who thought as I did, and decided to spend several years in the country, cultivating her mind." He dedicated Traite de metaphysique to her. In it the Deist candidly rejected immortality and questioned belief in God. It was not published until the 1780s. Voltaire continued writing amusing but meaty philosophical plays and histories. After the earthquake that leveled Lisbon in 1755, in which 15,000 people perished and another 15,000 were wounded, Voltaire wrote Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne (Poem on the Lisbon Disaster): "But how conceive a God supremely good/ Who heaps his favours on the sons he loves,/ Yet scatters evil with as large a hand?"
Voltaire purchased a chateau in Geneva, where, among other works, he wrote Candide (1759). To avoid Calvinist persecution, Voltaire moved across the border to Ferney, where the wealthy writer lived for 18 years until his death. Voltaire began to openly challenge Christianity, calling it "the infamous thing." He wrote Frederick the Great: "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." Voltaire ended every letter to friends with "Ecrasez l'infame" (crush the infamy — the Christian religion). His pamphlet, The Sermon on the Fifty (1762) went after transubstantiation, miracles, biblical contradictions, the Jewish religion, and the Christian God. Voltaire wrote that a true god "surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough," or inspired "books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror." He also published excerpts of Testament of the Abbe Meslier, by an atheist priest, in Holland, which advanced the Enlightenment. Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary was published in 1764 without his name. Although the first edition immediately sold out, Geneva officials, followed by Dutch and Parisian, had the books burned. It was published in 1769 as two large volumes. Voltaire campaigned fiercely against civil atrocities in the name of religion, writing pamphlets and commentaries about the barbaric execution of a Huguenot trader, who was first broken at the wheel, then burned at the stake, in 1762. Voltaire's campaign for justice and restitution ended with a posthumous retrial in 1765, during which 40 Parisian judges declared the defendant innocent. Voltaire urgently tried to save the life of Chevalier de la Barre, a 19 year old sentenced to death for blasphemy for failing to remove his hat during a religious procession. In 1766, Chevalier was beheaded after being tortured, then his body was burned, along with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire's statue at the Pantheon was melted down during Nazi occupation. D. 1778.
Voltaire (1694-1778), pseudónimo de François-
In 1694, Age of Enlightenment leader Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. Jesuit-educated, he began writing clever verses by the age of 12. He launched a lifelong, successful playwriting career in 1718, interrupted by imprisonment in the Bastille. Upon a second imprisonment, in which Francois adopted the pen name Voltaire, he was released after agreeing to move to London. There he wrote Lettres philosophiques (1733), which galvanized French reform. The book also satirized the religious teachings of Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal, including Pascal's famed "wager" on God. Voltaire wrote: "The interest I have in believing a thing is not a proof of the existence of that thing." Voltaire's French publisher was sent to the Bastille and Voltaire had to escape from Paris again, as judges sentenced the book to be "torn and burned in the Palace." Voltaire spent a calm 16 years with his deistic mistress, Madame du Chatelet, in Lorraine. He met the 27 year old married mother when he was 39. In his memoirs, he wrote: "I found, in 1733, a young woman who thought as I did, and decided to spend several years in the country, cultivating her mind." He dedicated Traite de metaphysique to her. In it the Deist candidly rejected immortality and questioned belief in God. It was not published until the 1780s. Voltaire continued writing amusing but meaty philosophical plays and histories. After the earthquake that leveled Lisbon in 1755, in which 15,000 people perished and another 15,000 were wounded, Voltaire wrote Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne (Poem on the Lisbon Disaster): "But how conceive a God supremely good/ Who heaps his favours on the sons he loves,/ Yet scatters evil with as large a hand?"
Voltaire purchased a chateau in Geneva, where, among other works, he wrote Candide (1759). To avoid Calvinist persecution, Voltaire moved across the border to Ferney, where the wealthy writer lived for 18 years until his death. Voltaire began to openly challenge Christianity, calling it "the infamous thing." He wrote Frederick the Great: "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." Voltaire ended every letter to friends with "Ecrasez l'infame" (crush the infamy — the Christian religion). His pamphlet, The Sermon on the Fifty (1762) went after transubstantiation, miracles, biblical contradictions, the Jewish religion, and the Christian God. Voltaire wrote that a true god "surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough," or inspired "books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror." He also published excerpts of Testament of the Abbe Meslier, by an atheist priest, in Holland, which advanced the Enlightenment. Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary was published in 1764 without his name. Although the first edition immediately sold out, Geneva officials, followed by Dutch and Parisian, had the books burned. It was published in 1769 as two large volumes. Voltaire campaigned fiercely against civil atrocities in the name of religion, writing pamphlets and commentaries about the barbaric execution of a Huguenot trader, who was first broken at the wheel, then burned at the stake, in 1762. Voltaire's campaign for justice and restitution ended with a posthumous retrial in 1765, during which 40 Parisian judges declared the defendant innocent. Voltaire urgently tried to save the life of Chevalier de la Barre, a 19 year old sentenced to death for blasphemy for failing to remove his hat during a religious procession. In 1766, Chevalier was beheaded after being tortured, then his body was burned, along with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire's statue at the Pantheon was melted down during Nazi occupation. D. 1778.
Voltaire (1694-1778), pseudónimo de François-
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 10, 2024
cottagecore propaganda
December 28, 2022
Voltaire is a good writer. His ideas suck. I love a good garden as much as the next girl, but if your takeaway from the Lisbon earthquake was to give up on all radical political projects and tend to your plants then I have a guillotine I'd like to introduce you to. As Enlightenment thinkers, we eventually have a choice: Voltaire's mockery of metaphysics or Spinoza's embrace of radical metaphysics. The former path leads to candy coated monarchism. The latter path leads to rationalist democracy. Choose wisely.
***
Take two. Voltaire is an obnoxious asshole. He is also very funny. I used to think his politics were too reactionary to be tolerable. I now think his black comedy is actually pretty funny. Yeah, it's not ideal that he doesn't believe in progress, but the dunks on the saccharine moralism of the church are sadly still extremely relevant. They will continue to be relevant until monism wins. Until that time, it's nice to be able to laugh at all the small minded tomfoolery.
***
Take two. Voltaire is an obnoxious asshole. He is also very funny. I used to think his politics were too reactionary to be tolerable. I now think his black comedy is actually pretty funny. Yeah, it's not ideal that he doesn't believe in progress, but the dunks on the saccharine moralism of the church are sadly still extremely relevant. They will continue to be relevant until monism wins. Until that time, it's nice to be able to laugh at all the small minded tomfoolery.
March 22, 2013
"let us cultivate our garden."
June 24, 2024
TW: lots of SA and violence towards women
The characters in this are more like caricatures. They're over the top and one note. I get that the book is supposed to be funny and satirical. It's a little witty and I was somewhat amused by just how miserable everyone is
The characters in this are more like caricatures. They're over the top and one note. I get that the book is supposed to be funny and satirical. It's a little witty and I was somewhat amused by just how miserable everyone is
July 13, 2023
Svi osim Martina su predstavljeni kao potpune budale koje prate nerealne nesreće. Krš
February 24, 2016
"Candide" is the definition of Irony. It's also a bright, breezy read, and a Classic to boot!
September 18, 2023
moze "na tamte czasy" poruszajace, ksiazka dobra ale bez szalu
[valerie,candide,comte de mc,grand meaulnes, robot m'a force de manger chou --> suma FR:6]
[valerie,candide,comte de mc,grand meaulnes, robot m'a force de manger chou --> suma FR:6]
April 5, 2025
I have read this novel in French and I discover new éléments when I read it.
My favourite part is the one where he tries to reconnect with his own humanity in the end.
My favourite part is the one where he tries to reconnect with his own humanity in the end.
April 12, 2025
bror sluta klaga eller gör slut
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
I've read this twice a long time ago and can't remember much of it. I know I wasn't bowled over.
May 25, 2025
funny af
August 31, 2021
Read this first over 40 years ago and found my copy, purchased first year of college for only dollars1.25! An extraordinary journey... political, philosophical, and very un- PC! An amazing book for its time.
April 15, 2024
Candide est un conte itinérant et philosophique agréable à lire.
A la fois satirique et philosophique, l'œuvre est un argumentaire talentueux contre la philosophie leibnitzienne (optimisme - fataliste - basé sur l'idée d'harmonie préétablie).
Ce livre permet à la fois de découvrir une époque, celle du XVIIIe, et une activité, la philosophie.
Il nous donne à la fois le goût du voyage à travers le monde, l'invitation à rêver à des terres utopiques, comme l'Eldorado, pour conclure sagement à prendre son destin en main.
Comment vivre heureux? (quête de nombreux philosophes d'hier et d'aujourd'hui).
"Il faut cultiver notre jardin" est la conclusion du conte... tirée de l'expérience d'un simple paysan turc dont la sagesse est de ne pas trop se préoccuper des affaires de la cité.
Le monde d'aujourd'hui, caractérisé par des conflits qui font l'actualité (Israël/Hamas, Russie/Ukraine) mais également les enjeux climatique, migratoire, les défis que rencontrent nos démocraties... rendent le texte très actuel.
Comment rester optimiste dans un tel contexte et quelle option philosophique choisir pour tenter d'être un sage, d'agir bien, de trouver le ton juste?
Il n'est pas dit que Voltaire nous donne la bonne réponse (évidemment "si chacun cultivait son jardin"... tout irait pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes... mais ce n'est pas le cas et, en démocratie surtout, il faut des citoyens engagés..., ce qui semble éloigné de la conclusion) mais il nous ouvre à la meilleure des réflexions, celle du sage qui, toujours, tente de prendre un peu de distance avec les événements pour mieux anticiper la suite.
A la fois satirique et philosophique, l'œuvre est un argumentaire talentueux contre la philosophie leibnitzienne (optimisme - fataliste - basé sur l'idée d'harmonie préétablie).
Ce livre permet à la fois de découvrir une époque, celle du XVIIIe, et une activité, la philosophie.
Il nous donne à la fois le goût du voyage à travers le monde, l'invitation à rêver à des terres utopiques, comme l'Eldorado, pour conclure sagement à prendre son destin en main.
Comment vivre heureux? (quête de nombreux philosophes d'hier et d'aujourd'hui).
"Il faut cultiver notre jardin" est la conclusion du conte... tirée de l'expérience d'un simple paysan turc dont la sagesse est de ne pas trop se préoccuper des affaires de la cité.
Le monde d'aujourd'hui, caractérisé par des conflits qui font l'actualité (Israël/Hamas, Russie/Ukraine) mais également les enjeux climatique, migratoire, les défis que rencontrent nos démocraties... rendent le texte très actuel.
Comment rester optimiste dans un tel contexte et quelle option philosophique choisir pour tenter d'être un sage, d'agir bien, de trouver le ton juste?
Il n'est pas dit que Voltaire nous donne la bonne réponse (évidemment "si chacun cultivait son jardin"... tout irait pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes... mais ce n'est pas le cas et, en démocratie surtout, il faut des citoyens engagés..., ce qui semble éloigné de la conclusion) mais il nous ouvre à la meilleure des réflexions, celle du sage qui, toujours, tente de prendre un peu de distance avec les événements pour mieux anticiper la suite.
May 17, 2025
“In the best of all possible worlds…” but not the best of all stories!
Voltaire is witty and crude in his view on the outcomes of believing in unlimited optimism. Despite the humor - yes, some very outdated but I hope we’re aware enough to realize it’s been nearly 300 years since its writing - we follow Candide as he is thrown from one situation to another, often recalling or experienced many horrible events of life with his companions.
I feel as if it would have been more effective to make this a collection of short stories following different characters. By the time we get to chapter 10 there has already been so much downfall in his life and we turn our attention to the other experiences of his companions that I almost don’t care anymore.
Yes, there is clever writing and lots of subtle messages and stabs to politics, races, and attitudes, but of all the ways to do so I feel there could have been another way to accomplish that.
I do understand for some that this is a classic, but I feel it does not take much to see that the world is so fallen. Because of that I don’t need a book telling me how silly it is that the concept of optimism is flawed to such a degree that Candide goes through. Personally for my own reading, I prefer to stick to works that can improve insight to psychology, religion, and relationships, along with the escapism of sci-fi and fantasy. Perhaps this genre of Voltaire’s writing is one I am too far removed from, but still my opinion is as is!
2⭐️ fine book, won't read again
Happy reading♥️📚
Voltaire is witty and crude in his view on the outcomes of believing in unlimited optimism. Despite the humor - yes, some very outdated but I hope we’re aware enough to realize it’s been nearly 300 years since its writing - we follow Candide as he is thrown from one situation to another, often recalling or experienced many horrible events of life with his companions.
I feel as if it would have been more effective to make this a collection of short stories following different characters. By the time we get to chapter 10 there has already been so much downfall in his life and we turn our attention to the other experiences of his companions that I almost don’t care anymore.
Yes, there is clever writing and lots of subtle messages and stabs to politics, races, and attitudes, but of all the ways to do so I feel there could have been another way to accomplish that.
I do understand for some that this is a classic, but I feel it does not take much to see that the world is so fallen. Because of that I don’t need a book telling me how silly it is that the concept of optimism is flawed to such a degree that Candide goes through. Personally for my own reading, I prefer to stick to works that can improve insight to psychology, religion, and relationships, along with the escapism of sci-fi and fantasy. Perhaps this genre of Voltaire’s writing is one I am too far removed from, but still my opinion is as is!
2⭐️ fine book, won't read again
Happy reading♥️📚
May 28, 2025
Voltaire wrote Candide amidst a deep discontent with blind optimism and the oppressive powers of religion and politics. When read today, it still feels like a sharp critique of so many things that persist—hypocrisy, suffering wrapped in dogma, and social inequality.
Candide, as the main character, is naive and overly innocent, but that’s exactly what makes him a reflective mirror for the reader. Meanwhile, Pangloss is a biting satire of philosophers who cling to theory while ignoring the harshness of reality.
What strikes me most about Candide is how it captures the irony of human existence—that we can suffer immensely, yet still look for reasons to believe “this is the best of all possible worlds.” When in fact, it clearly is not.
Phrases like “all of this had to happen” or “the more personal misfortunes there are, the greater the general good” sound absurd, yet Voltaire uses that absurdity as his weapon to expose the irrationality of such thinking in the face of real-life tragedy and pain.
“Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.”
Candide, as the main character, is naive and overly innocent, but that’s exactly what makes him a reflective mirror for the reader. Meanwhile, Pangloss is a biting satire of philosophers who cling to theory while ignoring the harshness of reality.
What strikes me most about Candide is how it captures the irony of human existence—that we can suffer immensely, yet still look for reasons to believe “this is the best of all possible worlds.” When in fact, it clearly is not.
Phrases like “all of this had to happen” or “the more personal misfortunes there are, the greater the general good” sound absurd, yet Voltaire uses that absurdity as his weapon to expose the irrationality of such thinking in the face of real-life tragedy and pain.
“Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.”
November 16, 2022
The moment i finished this book i started laughted at the irony, everything fell apart. I think religion is good, people just can't understand it properly thats why there are people who fanatics of religion and so i hate to admit that Voltaire was right, those religious fanatics should be stomped to death. Moreover about optimistic too (actually hate that stupid concept) people are unfortunate and blind, there's no happy life. I questioned sometimes, on paper its okay but realistically no i don't think so. Life is unfortunate thing, you can't just runaway from disappointment of life, yet we must face it towards action (just make it feel like all of this just a vanity project)
And yes this book are definitely introduce my beliefs and ideology. "Voltaire... I have always understood your ideology but its only now i see your wisdom."
And yes this book are definitely introduce my beliefs and ideology. "Voltaire... I have always understood your ideology but its only now i see your wisdom."
September 19, 2022
Very intresting journey. He is on the edge of nihilism, while showing the misery of the characters that apear. Everyone in this book goes trough an horrible misery and it shows that even a king is most likely unhappy. Voltaire tries to counter that nihilistic presence by giving the main caracter an optimistic trait. Even tho in the end it goes a bit more in the direction of absurdism. Candide can also be understood as naive wich fits the caracter. Overall it is an intresting story, wich really makes you wanna go on reading to see what Candide does next. It made me laught at times.
November 2, 2022
Livre très drôle (humour sournois). Critique de la bienséance et de la bien pensance (tout est bien dans le meilleur des mondes). Il arrive tout type d'aventure à Candide mais celui continue à affirmer jusqu'à la fin qu'il n'y a rien de mieux que ce monde. Dernier citation : "c'est bien, dit Candide, mais il faut cultiver notre jardin". L'idée ici de dire que le bonheur ne se trouve finalement que dans le travail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2024
Didn't aged well at all.
Sure, it's a classic , and the story behind it's writing and publishing is interesting. But that's it. Reading it was a continuing torture, yes, Candide has to learn that life isn't as easy as he learned it to be, but after reading the third chapter, we get it.
Thirty chapters weren't necessary to understand the moral behind the book. It's length is definitely it's biggest flaw because the same structure comes back again and again.
Sure, it's a classic , and the story behind it's writing and publishing is interesting. But that's it. Reading it was a continuing torture, yes, Candide has to learn that life isn't as easy as he learned it to be, but after reading the third chapter, we get it.
Thirty chapters weren't necessary to understand the moral behind the book. It's length is definitely it's biggest flaw because the same structure comes back again and again.
February 19, 2024
This was a torture to read. And I'm not saying this because school made me read it. The plot is impossible to follow with the many characters with stupid names. On a page Candide is suffering in the Bulgarian army and on the next page he is already in the beautiful El Dorado. I know this story meant to be about optimism and further lessons about life, but I simply hated it.
November 8, 2024
This is indeed a curious book, where through a succession of unfortunate events quite hard to believe Voltaire aims to demonstrate that optimistic philosophy is actually even harder to believe.
The book lives of the dichotomy between the horrors that happen to the characters and the almost insensible notions of Pangloss, who insists that everything that happens is for the best. His student, Candide, initially takes the view of his teacher, but is soon confronted with their obvious absurdity in face of adversity. By the end, our protagonist succeeds in finding a meaning for life, i.e. a conduct that allows him to be contented, if not happy.
Aspects I found of particular interest:
- The author seems to imply a relationship between what happens to you and your philosophical beliefs;
- The book is filled with social and political references to contemporary events, including the Portuguese earthquake of the XVIII century. It was the first time I ever read a foreign book that chose to refer Portuguese Inquisition over the Spanish one;
- The book also denounces the terrible social conditions of mankind at that historical time, particularly women. The big highlight of the book, in my view, is how Voltaire's critique isn't targeted only at his philosophical opponent Leibniz. I found insights on suicide and the destitution of women particularly moving ✨️
The book lives of the dichotomy between the horrors that happen to the characters and the almost insensible notions of Pangloss, who insists that everything that happens is for the best. His student, Candide, initially takes the view of his teacher, but is soon confronted with their obvious absurdity in face of adversity. By the end, our protagonist succeeds in finding a meaning for life, i.e. a conduct that allows him to be contented, if not happy.
Aspects I found of particular interest:
- The author seems to imply a relationship between what happens to you and your philosophical beliefs;
- The book is filled with social and political references to contemporary events, including the Portuguese earthquake of the XVIII century. It was the first time I ever read a foreign book that chose to refer Portuguese Inquisition over the Spanish one;
- The book also denounces the terrible social conditions of mankind at that historical time, particularly women. The big highlight of the book, in my view, is how Voltaire's critique isn't targeted only at his philosophical opponent Leibniz. I found insights on suicide and the destitution of women particularly moving ✨️
March 20, 2024
Clever and witty. But it presents a straw man to demolish and acts triumphant. It’s fine to criticize a belief but have the integrity to present the actual belief not a version even the adherents would mock.
Read
February 12, 2025Well that was... interesting. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, but I also didn't totally hate it? Let's all just stay in El Dorado and live happily ever after instead of dealing with all of whatever that was.
November 9, 2021
A funny and beautiful story about the human condition.
November 11, 2021
One must cultivate one's garden! Fantastic book about growth and development. Candide realizes he would not be the man he is if he did not go on such a journey or quest to find himself!
January 19, 2022
Giving it 2 stars purely because it was the most important satire of its time. Honestly just so dated. If you wanna read a fictional polemic that disproves a higher power, this ain't it
August 1, 2022
Lu dans le cadre de mes études, je l'ai abandonné car trop difficile pour moi de le lire (français ancien en général), pas compatible du tout avec ma dys'.
J'essayerai de m'y remettre un jour.
J'essayerai de m'y remettre un jour.
Read
November 21, 2022Voltaire would still be ahead of his time if born 3 centuries later
June 10, 2023
Surprisingly funny
July 16, 2023
Kinda racist
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews