Have I read this before: Yes! First time was in Literature of Western Civilization, the class that first got me interested in philosophy. I’ve read it many times since, but it’s been awhile since I last read it.

Review: *dramatic sigh* THIS FREAKING LITTLE NOVELLA. I’m so conflicted. On the one hand, it’s probably the best bit of satire I’ve ever read (and is hilarious and tragic and disturbing all at the same time). On the other hand, one of the major things being parodied is Leibniz’ optimism and Leibniz himself—you can’t tell me there aren’t personal jabs in there, ‘CAUSE THERE ARE! [see the last line of chapter 28], and that makes me sad. Especially since his philosophy is definitely oversimplified and entirely not what he meant “the best of all possible worlds” to be.

But Voltaire is Voltaire, so what can we do?

Favorite part: It’s hard to pick one since it’s so short and everything really flows together. There are some great lines, though:

• Candide, trembling like a philosopher, hid himself as best he could during this heroic carnage.
• Candide said to himself, “If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others like?”
• “What’s optimism?” asked Cacambo.
  “Alas,” said Candide, “it’s a mania for insisting that everything is all right when everything is going wrong.”