Welcome to Dicks Guides #2 with Dick's Cyberspace Mall, the World's Largest Internet Mall with over 1000 shops.  Free information provided by Dick's Cyberspace Mall, the WORLD'S LARGEST MALL You're visitor number 

 Dick's Guide to World History, Candide by Voltaire, Summary

You've reached Dick's Guide to World History. This World History site covers Candide by Voltaire and topics such as Voltaire, Pangloss, Cunegund, Martin, Anabaptist John, Thunder-ten-tronckh, Wald-berghoff-trarbkdikdorf, Bulgaria, Abare, Auto-De-Fe, Grand Inquisitor, Don Issachar, Cadiz, El Dorado, Cacambo, Surinam, Marchioness of Parolignac.

If you want to find out more about World History in general or Candide by Voltaire in particular, try Search Engine Heaven. If you think I can help you find some particular information, or simply answer your questions, about World History, Candide by Voltaire, Voltaire, Pangloss, Cunegund, Martin, Anabaptist James, Thunder-ten-tronckh, Wald-berghoff-trarbkdikdorf, Bulgaria, Abare, Auto-De-Fe, Grand Inquisitor, Don Issachar, Cadiz, El Dorado, Cacambo, Surinam, Marchioness of Parolignac or anything else, just ask. My email address is dickshelp@aol.com

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 1
How Candide Was Brought Up in a Magnificent Castle and How He Was Driven Thence

Candide, a trusting honest soul, is placed by Voltaire in Chapter 1 in a Westphalia castle owned by the Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh. He may have been the son of an out of wedlock birth to the Baron's sister. He is treated well in the Castle where he is tutored by the optimistic Dr. Pangloss and falls in love with the Baron's daughter, Miss Cunegund.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 2
What Befell Candide among the Bulgarians

When the Baron finds Candide and his daughter kissing, he banishes Candide who wanders to another town, Wald-berghoff-trarbkdikdorff, where he is captured by Bulgarians to become a soldier in the war between the King of the Bulgarians and the King of the Abares.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 3 How Candide Escaped from the Bulgarians and What Befell Him Afterward

Candide becomes involved in a terrible battle the kills over ten thousand people. He hides during the war and manages to escape to Holland where he is taken in by the Anabaptist James. Voltaire uses this chapter to show the horrors of war, the hypocrisy of the military leaders, the senseless carnage both sides cause on each other and the heartless bigotry of Holland's Protestants, especially as their behavior is contrasted with the behavior of the unbaptized James.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 4, How Candide Found His Old Master Pangloss Again and What Happened to Him

In this chapter 4 Voltaire has a sick, decrepit old person show up. It's Dr. Pangloss. Voltaire shows the suffering that Pangloss has gone through and hopes the reader will now see that the Pangloss philosophy of optimism ("this is the best of all times") is silly. Candide learns from Pangloss that the castle was destroyed and all but he were killed, including Miss Cunegund. Candide takes Pangloss to his quarters with John, who also takes in Pangloss and helps to cure him.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 5
A Tempest, a Shipwreck, an Earthquake, and What Else Befell Dr. Pangloss, Candide, and James, the Anabaptist

Candide, in chapter 5, is on his way to Portugal with Dr. Pangloss and the good James, the Anabaptist, but there is a tempest and shipwreck. John drowns but Candide and Pangloss reach shore, right after a frightful hurricane has hit Portugal's Lisbon.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 6
How the Portuguese Made a Superb Auto-De-Fe to Prevent Any Future Earthquakes, and How Candide Underwent Public Flagellation

In this chapter 6 Candide is introduced into a plight by Voltaire to show that the Catholic Portuguese are simply senseless killers. The Religious authorities order an Auto-De-Fe, where Candide suffers flagellation and Pangloss is hanged. A mysterious. old woman comes to aid Candide.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 7 How the Old Woman Took Care of Candide, and How He Found the Object of His Love

It turns out that the Old Woman who nurses the flagellated Candide back to health is actually the servant of Miss Cunegund, who is still alive. The lovers meet and fall in love again. Miss Cunegund had not died. See recovered from being ravished and disemboweled.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 8 Cunegund's Story

Voltaire, in his never ending war against pessimism, needs to show that Miss Cunegund had suffered. The castle was attacked by Bulgarians. She was raped. Then, a Bulgarian captain killed the rapist and took her for himself. But the captain grew tired of her, lost money gambling and -- three months later -- sold her to a Jew, Don Issachar. The Grand Inquisitor became interested in her and, after arguments with Don Issachar, the two men agreed to share her on alternate evenings. At the end of this chapter Don Issachar shows up and finds them together.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 9 --- What Happened to Cunegund, Candide, the Grand Inquisitor, and the Jew

Candide kills Issachar, who calls Cunegund a "Galilean slut", then he kills the Grand Inquisitor and adopts the old woman's plan of stealing three and alusian horses and escaping.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 10 --- In What Distress Candide, Cunegund, and the Old Woman Arrive at Cadiz, and Of Their Embarkation

Candide, in Chapter 10 does escape with Cunegund and the Old Woman to Cadiz, but not before the pessimist Voltaire creating more misery for them. A Franciscan father steals every last maravedi Cunegund had left. To get money Candide follows the old woman's advice and sells a horse to a Benedictine friar, for a cheap price. In Cadiz he has enough money for the three of them to buy passage to Buenos Aires, on a ship that takes soldiers to do battle with the Jesuits of Paraguay. Because of his past military experiece Candide is put in charge of a group of soldiers. The ex- baroness, Cunegund, who had seventy-two quarterings, bemoans her fate -- to have been so high and to have fallen so low is terrible. The old woman says she had it even worse.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 11 --- The History of the Old Woman

Candide, Pangloss and Cunegund had all experienced difficult times in earlier chapters. Now, Voltaire, in Chapter 11, has the Old Woman recites her saga of woe. She had started of life as the daughter of a Pope, Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina. She was betrothed to the love of her life, the sovereign prince of Massa Carrara, but one of his former lovers, an old marchioness, poisoned him. Her mom and she took off to Gaeta, to get away from the sadness of Rome, where the murder occurred. A Sallee rover kidnapped her and her mother and her attendants. They all fell into the hands of the Moors, where they were ravished many times and then taken to Morocco. In Morocco she saw her mother and their servants quartered by men. Voltaire would have us believe that four men fought for each women, with each grabbing an arm or a leg until the woman was ripped into fourths. To show Voltaire's despise of all religions, he does not spare Islam. He has the old woman note that while the men would tear women apart, "yet they never missed the five stated times of prayer enjoined by their prophet Mahomet."

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 12 --- The Adventures of the Old Woman Continued

Voltaire really enjoyed describing the terrible life of the Pope's daughter, the old woman, and devoted not only Chapter 11, but Chapter 12 to the Old Woman's agonies. She alone managed to survive the quarterings and was saved by a eunuch who had been a singer for in her mother, the Princess of Palestrina's chapel in Italy. But the Eunuch was like all of the other killers, slavers and sick people who Voltaire saw in Candide's world. The Eunuch sold her in Algiers to the Dey. Algiers was hit with the plague that almost killed everyone in the seraglio. Then she was sold to various people in Tunis, Tripoli, Alexandria, Smyrna and Constantinople where she was bought by a feminizing Aga of the Janissaries. He took her to war in Azoff, where the fort was besieged and 1/2 of her buttocks was cut off to feed the soldiers. Then, the fort was finally defeated by the Russians. Of course, the Russians now took her prisoner.

Chapter 13
How Candide Was Obliged to Leave the Fair Cunegund and the Old Woman

Cunegund, after hearing the story of the Pope's daughter paid her respect. The ship arrived at Buenos Aires, where Cunegund, (now) Captain Candide, and the old woman ... wait(ed for) ... the governor, Don Fernando d'Ibaraa y Figueora y Mascarenes y Lampourdos y Souza. This nobleman sent Candide away to do something and made a play for Candide. With the old woman's counsel, she decided to accept the governor's offer. As the old woman pointed out, "Miss, you have seventy-two quarterings in your arms, it is true, but you have not a penny to bless yourself with. It is your own fault if you do not become the wife of one of the greatest noblemen in South America ... What business have you to pride yourself upon an unshaken constancy? You have been outraged by a Bulgarian soldier; a Jew and an Inquisitor have both tasted of your favors. People take advantage of misfortunes. I must confess, were I in your place, I should, without the least scruple, give my hand to the Governor, and thereby make the fortune of the brave Captain Candide."

Candide now heard that the Portugal authorities were after him for the murder of the Grand Inquisitor, and would soon arrive in Buenos Aires. He decides to flee and to leave Cunegund behind.

Candide by Voltaire 1759
Chapter 14
The Reception Candide and Cacambo Met with among the Jesuits in Paraguay

Candide had brought with him from Cadiz ... Cacambo; he had a great affection for his master (and) he immediately saddled the two and alusian horses for their escape. Cacambo suggested to Candide that "you were going to fight against the Jesuits of Paraguay; now let us go and fight for them; I know the road perfectly well; I'll conduct you to their kingdom; they will be delighted with a captain that understands the Bulgarian drill; you will certainly make a prodigious fortune. If we cannot succeed in this world we may in another. It is a great pleasure to see new objects and perform new exploits." Upon reaching Paraguay the Reverend Command ant was happy to learn that Candide was a German, "since he is a German I will hear what he has to say; let him be brought to my arbor." The Reverend father turned out to be the brother of the fair Miss Cunegund, who also had not been totally killed by the Bulgarians! The father was delighted to hear that Cunegund was alive. All was well, now -- until ...

Candide Chapter 15 --- How Candide Killed the Brother of His Dear Cunegund

Voltaire now has Candide's brother recounted the terrible things that had happened to him, "the ... horrible day ... I saw my father and mother barbarously butchered ... and my sister ravished." He explained he had survived because, "A Jesuit sprinkled us with some holy water, which was confounded salty, and a few drops of it went into my eyes; the father perceived that my eyelids stirred a little; he put his hand upon my breast and felt my heartbeat; upon which he gave me proper assistance, and at the end of three weeks I was perfectly recovered. The Reverend Father Croust, superior of that house, took a great fancy to him and put him into the order. Candide made the mistake of saying "I intended to marry her; and I hope I shall still be able to effect it."

"Insolent fellow!" cried the Baron. "You! you have the impudence to marry my sister, who bears seventy-two quarterings! " The Jesuit, Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh, struck Candide across the face with the flat side of his sword. Candide killed the Jesuit. With the help of Cacambo Candide again escaped, wearing Jesuit clothes.

Candide by Voltaire 1759
Chapter 16
What Happened to Our Two Travelers with Two Girls, Two Monkeys, and the Savages, Called Oreillons

While escaping Cacambo and Candide come upon two women screaming as they are being pursued by two monkeys. He shoot the monkeys and the women cry. It seems that the monkeys were the women's lovers. Candide and Cacambo go on and get caught by the Oreillons, who -- thinking they are Jesuits -- plan to eat them. Cacambo explains to them Candide is not a Jesuit but had killed a Jesuit. When the Oreillans validate this information they treat Cacambo and Candide with great warmth.

Candide by Voltaire 1759
Chapter 17
Candide and His Valet Arrive in the Country of El Dorado-What They Saw There

Voltaire now has Candide and Cacambo reach the perfect city El Dorado. Everyone is good, the government pays for everything, gold and diamonds are as common as clay and pebbles. Only an optimist would be fool enough to ever leave such a city. Candide and Cacambo reached this p[lace accidentally as they were searching for Cayenne where they hoped to catch a French ship. The people of El Dorado spoke Peruvian, as did Cacambo who had been born in Peru in the town of Tucuman.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 18
What They Saw in the Country of El Dorado

Most folks in EL Dorado were so contented that they were not interested in local history or politics. But Cacambo and Candide did get to see an old man retired from the court was was "the most learned and communicative person in the whole kingdom." They were warmly received by the old man who said, "I am now one hundred and seventy-two years old, and I learned of my late father, who was equerry to the King, the amazing revolutions of Peru, to which he had been an eyewitness. This kingdom is the ancient patrimony of the Incas, who very imprudently quitted it to conquer another part of the world, and were at length conquered and destroyed themselves by the Spaniards.

Those who remained behind decided that "none of the inhabitants of our little kingdom should ever quit it ... the inaccessible rocks and precipices with which our country is surrounded on all sides, has hitherto secured us from the rapacious fury of the people of Europe, who have an unaccountable fondness for the pebbles and dirt of our land, for the sake of which they would murder us all to the very last man."

The inhabitants believed in one god but, said the old man, "We do not pray to Him at all ... we have nothing to ask of Him, He has given us all we want, and we give Him thanks incessantly."

Next they saw the king who was equally courteous. But, Candide missed Miss Cunegund. They asked the king if they could leave with lots of diamonds and gold. The King agreed, and helped the pair leave with 100's of red sheep laden with more gold and diamonds than existed in the whole world -- outside of El Dorado.

Candide by Voltaire 1759
Chapter 19
What Happened to Them at Surinam, and How Candide Became Acquainted with Martin

Voltaire, in Chapter 19, punishes Cacambo and Candide on their way to buy Cunegund's freedom. A difficult journey causes them to lose many of their treasure laden sheep from El Dorado, as they make their way to Dutch Surinam. No one will allow them to hire a ship to take Cunegund from the governor. Candide sends Cacambo, with lots of money, to go and buy her freedom. He buys passage back to Europe with a Dutch captain, Mynheer Vanderdendur. The captain, sensing that Candide is wildly rich, takes the sheep on board and takes off without Candide. Candide still has some money and, while waiting for the next boat, hires a companion, Martin who also had had a hard life because he had been seen as a Socinian (an adherent of the teachings of Socinus; a Christian who rejects the divinity of Christ and the Trinity and original sin; influenced the development of Unitarian theology) Of course, Martin has also had a hard life. Voltaire tells us, "This scholar, who was in fact a very honest man, had been robbed by his wife, beaten by his son, and forsaken by his daughter, who had run away with a Portuguese. He had been likewise deprived of a small employment on which he subsisted, and he was persecuted by the clergy of Surinam, who took him for a Socinian."

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 20
What Befell Candide and Martin on Their Passage

Candide and Martin embark for Bordeaux. Martin says that he has suffered so much he is a Manichaean, a believer in the doctrines of Manes, a Persian of the third century A. D., who taught a dualism in which Light is regarded as the source of Good, and Darkness as the source of Evil. The Manich[ae]ans stand as representatives of dualism pushed to its utmost development. During the trip the two witness a sea battle in which the Dutch ship of Mynheer Vanderdendur is sunk. Candide is delighted to get one sheep back.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 21
Candide and Martin, While Thus Reasoning with Each Other, Draw Near to the Coast of France

Martin does not think much about the people of France, "one half of the people are fools and madmen; in some, they are too artful; in others, again, they are, in general, either very good-natured or very brutal; while in others, they affect to be witty, and in all, their ruling passion is love, the next is slander, and the last is to talk nonsense." As for Paris and Saint-Germain, "a place that contains the several species just described; it is a chaos, a confused multitude, where everyone seeks for pleasure without being able to find it; at least, as far as I have observed during my short stay in that city. At my arrival I was robbed of all I had in the world by pickpockets and sharpers, at the fair of Saint-Germain. I was taken up myself for a robber, and confined in prison a whole week; after which I hired myself as corrector to a press in order to get a little money towards defraying my expenses back to Holland on foot." Before reaching Bordeaux Martin explained more about his philosophy on the purpose of life ("to drive us mad") and the unchanging nature of the brute, man.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 22
What Happened to Candide and Martin in France

Candide and Martin stay in Bordeaux, France, long enough to get some cash. Then they head for Paris. At Saint-Marceau he and Martin live well and are surrounded by hanger-ons who want some of Candide's wealth. Among these is abbe of Perigord. At a play Candide is charmed by the actress Miss Clairon, and wants to see her. The abbe promises to set this up but, instead, sets Candide up with the Marchioness of Parolignac, who runs a whore house and a place of gambling. After cheating on Cunegund he tells the abbe that his main goal is to get to Venice to return to Cunegund. The abbe then sends a letter to Candide, pretending that Cunegund is in town. When he goes to meet her he is grabbed by a policeman and locked up. He bribes the policeman who then takes Martin and Candide to Normandy where they can escape France and get to Portsmouth England.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 23
Candide and Martin Touch upon the English Coast-What They See There

On the trip Candide and Martin make to the English Coast and Portsmouth, Voltaire has his characters lampoon the French and English. Martin says, "these two nations (France and England) are at war about a few acres of barren land in the neighborhood of Canada, and ... have expended much greater sums in the contest than all Canada is worth. ... whether there are a greater number fit to be inhabitants of a madhouse in the one country than the other, exceeds the limits of my imperfect capacity; I know in general that the people we are going to visit (in England) are of a very dark and gloomy disposition."

They arrived at Portsmouth to see an English Admiral shot by four soldiers,
"Because he did not put a sufficient number of his fellow creatures to death. You must know, he had an engagement with a French admiral, and it has been proved against him that he was not near enough to his antagonist."

Candide refused to set foot on shore, but made a bargain with the Dutch skipper to carry him directly to Venice.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 24
Of Pacquette and Friar Giroflee

When Candide and Martin reached Venice they coupled not find Cacambo or Cunegund. Martin, of course, wasn't surprised. "I think you are very simple to imagine that a rascally valet, with five or six millions in his pocket, would go in search of your mistress to the further of the world, and bring her to Venice to meet you. If he finds her he will take her for himself; if he does not, he will take another. Let me advise you to forget your valet Cacambo, and your mistress Cunegund."

Candide and Martin spent their days philosophizing about pessimism and optimism. The day came when Candide "perceived a young Theatin friar in the Piazza San Marco, with a girl under his arm. The Theatin looked fresh-colored, plump, and vigorous; his eyes sparkled; his air and gait were bold and lofty. The girl was pretty, and was singing a song; and every now and then gave her Theatin an amorous ogle and wantonly pinched his ruddy cheeks." Candide felt these two were happy. Martin said, "they are not what you imagine." Voltaire, of course, proved that Martin was right, Pacquette (the girl) was only smiling because she was a prostitute and needed to make the Theaten Friar Giroflee happy. The Theaten Giroflee wished that his whole order was dead. AT the end of this chapter Martin and Candide plan to visit an allegedly great man, Senator Pococurante

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 25
Candide and Martin Pay a Visit to Seignor Pococurante, a Noble Venetian

Candide and Martin visit Seignor Pococurante on a Venetian gondola sailing the Brenta. Pococurante is a rich man with paintings by Raphael and a library containing the books of Horace, Homer, Virgil, Tully and Milton. But, Pococurante finds no joy in any of his possessions.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 26
Candide and Martin Sup with Six Sharpers-Who They Were

Keywords: Candide and Martin are eating one evening when six deposed rulers (Six Sharpers) come in. Surprise! Candide's old pal Cacambo is the servant of one of them and he whispers to Candide that Miss Cunegund is alive, but ugly and living in Constantinople.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 27
Candide's Voyage to Constantinople

Candide and Martin sail to Constantinople with Cacambo and his master Sultan Achmet. By now, despite all his losses, Candide has again seen the wisdom of his teacher, Pangloss. Miss Cunegund now washes dishes on the Propontis, for the rather poor sovereign Ragotsky. , Cape Matapan, Milo, Nicaria, Samos, Petra, Dardanelles, Marmora, Scutar, Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh, Pangloss, Cacambo had spent two millions to free Cunegund from Seignor Don Fernando d'Ibaraa y Figueora y Mascarenes y Lampourdos y Souza., the Governor of Buenos Aires. Then he lost the rest to a pirate, who carried them to Cape Matapan, to Milo, to Nicaria, to Samos, to Petra, to the Dardanelles, to Marmora, to Scutari. Cacambo said that, "Miss Cunegund and the old woman are now servants to the prince I have told you of; and I myself am slave to the dethroned Sultan." When they reached Constaninople Candide ransomed Cunegund, the old woman and Cacambo. While on the ship he had noticed two poor rowers. He felt sorry for them and went to see them. Surprise, one was
Pangloss and the other was the Baron Jesuit, Miss Cunegund's brother. He also ransomed them.


Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 28
What Befell Candide, Cunegund, Pangloss, Martin, etc.

Candide apologized to the Baron; "for running you through the body." The Baron graciously accepted the apology and explained how he had managed to survive and become a galley slave. "After I had been cured of the wound you gave me, by the College apothecary, I was attacked and carried off by a party of Spanish troops, who clapped me in prison in Buenos Aires, at the very time my sister was setting out from there. I asked leave to return to Rome, to the general of my Order, who appointed me chaplain to the French Ambassador at Constantinople. I had not been a week in my new office, when I happened to meet one evening a young Icoglan, extremely handsome and well-made. The weather was very hot; the young man had an inclination to bathe. I took the opportunity to bathe likewise. I did not know it was a crime for a Christian to be found naked in company with a young Turk. I was sent to the galleys".

Pangloss explained how he had survived and become a Galley slave. The rope was wet so he was not fully hung. The doctor who revived him got Pangloss a job "to be lackey to a Knight of Malta, who was going to Venice; but finding my master had no money to pay me my wages, I entered into the service of a Venetian merchant and went with him to Constantinople. ... One day I happened to enter a mosque, where I saw no one but an old man and a very pretty young female devotee, who was telling her beads; her neck was quite bare, and in her bosom she had a beautiful nosegay of tulips, roses, anemones, ranunculuses, hyacinths, and auriculas; she let fall her nosegay. I ran immediately to take it up, and presented it to her with a most respectful bow. I was so long in delivering it that the man began to be angry; and, perceiving I was a Christian, he cried out for help; they carried me before the cadi, who ordered me to receive one hundred bastinadoes, and sent me to the galleys. I was chained in the very galley and to the very same bench with the Baron.

Candide asked Pangloss, "when You were hanged, dissected, whipped, and tugging at the oar, did you continue to think that everything in this world happens for the best?" loss assured him that, "I have always abided by my first opinion, for, after all, I am a philosopher, and it would not become me to retract my sentiments; especially as Leibnitz could not be in the wrong: and that preestablished harmony is the finest thing in the world, as well as a plenum and the materia subtilis."

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 29
In What Manner Candide Found Miss Cunegund and the Old Woman Again

While Candide, the Baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo, were relating their several adventures, and reasoning on who had had it the worst and why, they sailed near the house of the Transylvanian prince on the shores of the Propontis. The first objects they beheld there, were Miss Cunegund and the old woman, who were hanging some tablecloths on a line to dry. Cunegund was really ugly but Candide planned to go ahead with the marriage, even though the Baron was, again, outraged. AT the old woman's advice, he also purchased a small farm in the neighborhood to work until things got better.

Candide by Voltaire 1759 Chapter 30
Conclusion

Candide, married to his mistress and living with the philosopher Pangloss, the philosopher Martin, the prudent Cacambo, and the old woman now had little money. "He had been so robbed by the Jews, that he had nothing left but his little farm; his wife, every day growing more and more ugly, became headstrong and insupportable; the old woman was infirm, and more ill-natured yet than Cunegund. Cacambo, who worked in the garden, and carried the produce of it to sell in Constantinople, was above his labor, and cursed his fate. Pangloss despaired of making a figure in any of the German universities. And as to Martin, he was firmly persuaded that a person is equally ill-situated everywhere. He took things with patience."

One day Candide found a happy farmer who said, "I have no more than twenty acres of ground, the whole of which I cultivate myself with the help of my children; and our labor keeps off from us three great evils-idleness, vice, and want."

The little society, one and all, entered into this laudable design and set themselves to exert their different talents. The little piece of ground yielded them a plentiful crop. Cunegund indeed was very ugly, but she became an excellent hand at pastrywork: Pacquette embroidered; the old woman had the care of the linen. There was none, down to Brother Giroflee, but did some service; he was a very good carpenter, and became an honest man. Pangloss used now and then to say to Candide:

"There is a concatenation of all events in the best of possible worlds; for, in short, had you not been kicked out of a fine castle for the love of Miss Cunegund; had you not been put into the Inquisition; had you not traveled over America on foot; had you not run the Baron through the body; and had you not lost all your sheep, which you brought from the good country of El Dorado, you would not have been here to eat preserved citrons and pistachio nuts."

"Excellently observed," answered Candide; "but let us cultivate our garden."
Source Material: A History of World Societies, Fifth Edition, Volume II, Since 1500 by McKay, Hill, Buckler, Ebrey

Source Material: Worlds of History, A Comparative Reader, Volume Two: Since 1400 by Kevin Reilly

Source Material: Candide by Voltaire (Buy the book here for 90 cents)

Source Material: Primis, Political Science, Ethical Theory of Government, Discourses (ISBN: 0-390-97507-9) published for Skidmore-Hess