Candide

[kahn-deed]

noun

1. a philosophical novel (1759) by Voltaire.

Candide

1. A novel of satire by Voltaire, in which a long series of calamities happens to the title character, an extremely naive and innocent young man, and his teacher, Doctor Pangloss. Pangloss, who reflects the optimistic philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz, nevertheless insists that, despite the calamities, “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”

Example Sentences

From this point on, the book follows the bizarre, episodic structure of Voltaire’s “Candide,” crossed with Franz Kafka’s “Amerika.”

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The highfalutin parallel is to “Candide,” the classic 18th century novel about a naif who endures the horrors of civilization: chaos, selfishness, disease and destruction.

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"William Wells Brown’s 'Clotel' was the first novel written by an African American, and, in my view, it presents the philosophy of Black liberalism in the form of a story, in a manner akin to Voltaire’s 'Candide.'"

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It reminded me of the final line of one of my favorite novels, “Candide.”

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Candide lives a life of ease before years of trials and tragedies that leave him increasingly bitter.

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