Monday's Excerpts - Candide by Voltaire

     I would say there's spoilers, but the entire book of Candide is a huge spoiler. Hell, the chapter titles tell you pretty much exactly what's going to happen before you even read about it. On the back of my copy, it even tells me the ending. So in that case, consider whatever you want a spoiler, because Candide has demolished the original concept.

This Week's Book: Candide by Voltaire

    “Oh, Pangloss!” cried Candide, “thou hadst not guessed at this abomination; it is the end. I must at last renounce thy optimism.”

    “What is this optimism?” said Cacambo.

    “Alas!” said Candide, “it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.” (Page 49)

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“. . . A hundred times I was upon the point of killing myself; but still I loved life. This ridiculous foible is perhaps one of our most fatal characteristics; for is there anything more absurd than to wish to carry continually a burden which one can always throw down? to detest existence and yet to cling to one’s existence? in brief, to caress the serpent which devours us, till he has eaten our very heart?" (Page 29)

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“. . . A modest woman may be ravished once, but her virtue is strengthened by it. . . .” (Page 17)

Books read this past week...
★★★★★ The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
★★★☆☆ Candide by Voltaire
★☆☆☆☆ The Lolita Effect by M. Gigi Durham
★★★☆☆ Marilyn Manson by Kurt Reighley

(All title links link back to my webpages of them on Goodreads.com, a great library/reviewing/rating website for readers. Check it out, and add me as a friend if you decide to join!)