Candide

I am currently reading Candide by Voltaire. It is about a young boy, Candide, and his tutor, Pangloss. Pangloss has a conviction that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. No matter what happens, Pangloss declares that it is for the best and that this is the best of all possible situations because it is the situation that is. Candide adores his philosopher/tutor and takes Pangloss theory as firm truth until, that is, he encounters horrible troubles in his life and begins to doubt it. The book is short, an easy read and funny.

Here is one of my favorite lines. Candide and Pangloss are going on a voyage along with an Anabaptist named James.

"On the voyage, Pangloss explained to James the perfection of the scheme of things. James disagreed: 'Men must have deviated somewhat from their original innocence,' he said. 'They were not born wolves, but they are become wolves. God did not give them twenty-four pounders nor bayonets, but they have made these things for their own destruction. I might also speak of bankruptcies, and the law which seizes upon the property of bankrupts solely in order to keep it from the creditors.'

"'All that had to be,' replied [Pangloss]. 'Private ills make up the general good. It therefore follows that, the more numerous the private ills, the greater the general good.'