"What's optimism? said Cacambo. Alas, said Candide, it is a mania for saying things are well when one is in hell.












If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others?
More Voltaire quotes
"He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend- provided of course he really is dead.
"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God grante
"One day everything will be well, that is our hope. Everything's fine today, that is our illusion
"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it.", May 16, 1767)
"If they're from the village, you take them to the inn. If they're from the city, you treat them with respect when they are beautiful and throw them on...
"Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.
"What a pessimist you are!" exclaimed Candide."That is because I know what life is," said Martin.
"It is proved...that things cannot be other than they are, for since everything was made for a purpose, it follows that everything is made for the best...