“Have you ever been to France Monsieur Martin?” Candide asked. “Yes”, Martin replied, “I have been through several provinces. In some, half the people are mad, in others the people are too cunning; there are some in which they are gentle and foolish, and others where everyone is witty. And in all these provinces theContinue reading “RKS Literature: France: Love, Slander and Nonsense”
Tag Archives: “Candide or Optimism”
RKS Literature: The Rabble of Paris (Voltaire)
“Yes, I have seen Paris. It has all those types of people. What chaos! A swarm of people where everyone is seeking pleasure but hardly anyone finds it; at least that is how it seemed to me. I did not stay long. When I arrived, pick-pockets at the Saint Germain robbed me of everything IContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Rabble of Paris (Voltaire)”
RKS Literature: The Regimented Assassins of Europe (Voltaire)
“I have hardly ever come across a town that does not desire the ruin of its neighbouring town, a family that does not destroy another family. Everywhere the weak despise the strong at whose feet they grovel, and the strong treat them like sheep whose wool and flesh can be sold. A million regimented assassins,Continue reading “RKS Literature: The Regimented Assassins of Europe (Voltaire)”
RKS Literature: What is Optimism? (Voltaire)
“What is optimism?” Cacambo asked. “Alas!” Candide replied. “It is the mania of affirming that everything is good when things are bad.” “Candide or Optimism”, Voltaire, 1759.
RKS Literature: The Timeless Excellence of Wine from Samos, Greece (Voltaire)
“He immediately approached them, greeted them, and invited them to come eat at his inn to eat some macaroni, Lombardy partridges, and caviar, and to drink some wine from Montepulciano, from Cyprus and Samos and some Lacrimae Christi.” Voltaire, “Candide or Optimism”, 1759.
RKS Literature: Opera as a Revolting Monster (Voltaire)
“I would perhaps prefer opera, had they not discovered the secret of turning it into a monster that revolts me. I do not mind if people want to see bad tragedies set to music, the scenes serving only to introduce (and quite badly) one or two ridiculous songs intended to exhibit the actresses’ gullet. GoodContinue reading “RKS Literature: Opera as a Revolting Monster (Voltaire)”
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