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The Pursuit Of Happiness In Voltaire's Candide

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How does one find that they are truly living their best possible life? Will their ultimate happiness be through chance? Or will it be through the effort that they put towards it? These are the types of questions that will more than likely roam through any individual 's mind at one point or another. In a fuss over whether or not it is up to us to make life worthwhile, or to just let fate take it’s course. Deciding that if there be a God, His plan for us is set in stone, or that waiting for the “perfect” life is not an option, and that we must cultivate our own garden. “But we must work our land.” (Voltaire 79) The famous last words spoken in Voltaire’s philosophical novel, Candide. Coming from Candide himself to his trustworthy colleague, …show more content…

These final words of Candide are not ones to retreat from politics or philosophy, they are simply a new interpretation of how to handle the “bad” and ugly in the world. Rather than dismissing philosophy altogether, it only denies that no matter what the best possible world will be there waiting for us. We cannot just sit around and waste time hoping that the “best” will be there for us, we have to take the first step and work for it. Basically stating that we cannot be living in our best possible world without putting in at least some effort and work. As for it being in a political standpoint, Voltaire only speaks the truth on how our civilizations are ran and what the authorities do about it. We know this for a fact because the story of Candide had truly tragic events that were based on those that had actually happened. The Seven Years War and the Earthquake of Lisbon being the main two. Candide could not stand what was happening around him and has therefore stated that we must work on it, work on our land for the sake of the earth and those who call it home. So yes, Candide’s last words take a new stance on philosophy and politics, and are still relevant to this day. Although most would like to have an optimistic mindset, we cannot become comfortable in a belief that everything shall be handed to us, we must strive for

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