Candide

Voltaire’s satire of Candide, a young man raised on his tutor Pangloss’s teaching that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds, whose travels through war, earthquake and the Inquisition in Europe and South America put the doctrine to the test.

Start reading30 chapters, about 32,000 words

Famous quotes

• If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others?

  In context

  • Philosophy

• Fools admire everything in an author of reputation.

  Chapter XXVIn context

  • Fame
  • Writing

• Our labour preserves us from three great evils⁠—weariness, vice, and want.

  Chapter XXXIn context

  • Work

• Let us cultivate our garden.

  Chapter XXXIn context

  • Wisdom
  • Work

Contents

1. Chapter IHow Candide Was Brought Up in a Magnificent Castle, and How He Was Expelled Thence
2. Chapter IIWhat Became of Candide Among the Bulgarians
3. Chapter IIIHow Candide Made His Escape from the Bulgarians, and What Afterwards Became of Him
4. Chapter IVHow Candide Found His Old Master Pangloss, and What Happened to Them
5. Chapter VTempest, Shipwreck, Earthquake, and What Became of Doctor Pangloss, Candide, and James the Anabaptist
6. Chapter VIHow the Portuguese Made a Beautiful Auto-da-fé, to Prevent Any Further Earthquakes; and How Candide Was Publicly Whipped
7. Chapter VIIHow the Old Woman Took Care of Candide, and How He Found the Object He Loved
8. Chapter VIIIThe History of Cunegonde
9. Chapter IXWhat Became of Cunegonde, Candide, the Grand Inquisitor, and the Jew
10. Chapter XIn What Distress Candide, Cunegonde, and the Old Woman Arrived at Cadiz; and of Their Embarkation
11. Chapter XIHistory of the Old Woman
12. Chapter XIIThe Adventures of the Old Woman Continued
13. Chapter XIIIHow Candide Was Forced Away from His Fair Cunegonde and the Old Woman
14. Chapter XIVHow Candide and Cacambo Were Received by the Jesuits of Paraguay
15. Chapter XVHow Candide Killed the Brother of His Dear Cunegonde
16. Chapter XVIAdventures of the Two Travellers, with Two Girls, Two Monkeys, and the Savages Called Oreillons
17. Chapter XVIIArrival of Candide and His Valet at El Dorado, and What They Saw There
18. Chapter XVIIIWhat They Saw in the Country of El Dorado
19. Chapter XIXWhat Happened to Them at Surinam and How Candide Got Acquainted with Martin
20. Chapter XXWhat Happened at Sea to Candide and Martin
21. Chapter XXICandide and Martin, Reasoning, Draw Near the Coast of France
22. Chapter XXIIWhat Happened in France to Candide and Martin
23. Chapter XXIIICandide and Martin Touched upon the Coast of England, and What They Saw There
24. Chapter XXIVOf Paquette and Friar Giroflée
25. Chapter XXVThe Visit to Lord Pococurante, a Noble Venetian
26. Chapter XXVIOf a Supper Which Candide and Martin Took with Six Strangers, and Who They Were
27. Chapter XXVIICandide’s Voyage to Constantinople
28. Chapter XXVIIIWhat Happened to Candide, Cunegonde, Pangloss, Martin, etc.
29. Chapter XXIXHow Candide Found Cunegonde and the Old Woman Again
30. Chapter XXXThe Conclusion