“All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.”
This famous phrase sounds like the ultimate expression of optimism. Many people attribute it to the French Enlightenment writer Voltaire as a piece of heartfelt wisdom. However, the reality is far more interesting and deeply ironic. Voltaire did write these words, but he put them in the mouth of a character he wanted to ridicule. The quote is not a sincere belief; it is the cornerstone of a brilliant satire.
This statement is the central target of Voltaire’s 1759 satirical novella, Candide, or Optimism. To understand its true meaning, we must first look at the philosophy Voltaire was mocking. He aimed his sharp wit directly at the ideas of the German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
The Philosophy of Optimism
In the early 18th century, Leibniz developed a philosophical system known as optimism. Source He argued that since God is omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good, the world He created must necessarily be the best one possible. According to Leibniz, every event, including suffering and evil, is part of a divine, harmonious plan that ultimately serves a greater good. This concept was a popular way to reconcile the existence of suffering with the belief in a benevolent God.
Voltaire found this idea absurd and offensive. He saw it as a detached, intellectual excuse for ignoring the very real and brutal suffering in the world. A catastrophic event would soon give him the perfect ammunition to challenge this philosophy.
Candide and the Absurdity of Blind Faith
Voltaire wrote Candide in response to several tragedies, most notably the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which killed tens of thousands. He could not accept that such a horrific event was part of a perfect plan. Consequently, he created the character Dr. Pangloss in Candide as a caricature of Leibniz and his followers.
Pangloss is the tutor of the naive protagonist, Candide. He endlessly repeats the mantra, “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” The novella then subjects Candide and Pangloss to a relentless series of horrific disasters. They experience war, shipwreck, torture during the Inquisition, and the Lisbon earthquake itself. After each terrible event, Pangloss contorts logic to explain how it was a necessary part of this perfect world. For example, he reasons that the bay of Lisbon was formed specifically so that an Anabaptist character could drown in it.
Satire as a Weapon
This stark contrast between Pangloss’s unwavering optimism and the brutal reality of their suffering is the engine of Voltaire’s satire. He demonstrates how such a philosophy becomes ridiculous when faced with genuine tragedy. By pushing optimistic logic to its most extreme and absurd conclusions, Voltaire exposes its flaws. He suggests that this kind of thinking is not only silly but also dangerous, as it encourages passivity and acceptance of preventable suffering.
The Real Message: Cultivate Your Garden
If Voltaire rejected blind optimism, what did he propose instead? The answer lies in the novel’s famous concluding line: “We must cultivate our garden.” After traveling the world and witnessing endless suffering, Candide finally gives up on Pangloss’s philosophy. He and his companions settle on a small farm.
This final statement is Voltaire’s true message. He argues that instead of wasting time on abstract philosophical debates about why the world is the way it is, we should focus our energy on practical, tangible action. Improving our own small corner of the world—our “garden”—is more valuable than trying to justify global suffering. It is a call for productive work, personal responsibility, and making a real difference where we can.
Therefore, the quote “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds” is one of literature’s greatest examples of irony. Voltaire used it to tear down a philosophy he despised and to advocate for a more grounded, active, and compassionate approach to life. The next time you hear this phrase, you will know its true, critical power.