All events are linked together in the best of possible worlds; after all, if you had not been driven from a fine castle by being kicked in the backside for love of Miss Cunegonde, if you hadn't been sent before the Inquisition, if you hadn't traveled across America on foot, if you hadn't given a good sword thrust to the baron, if you hadn't lost all your sheep from the good land of Eldorado, you wouldn't be sitting here eating candied citron and pistachios. - That is very well put, said Candide, but we must cultivate our garden.

Thought depends absolutely on the stomach, but in spite of that, those who have the best stomachs are not the best thinkers.

Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need.

Man can have only a certain number of teeth, hair and ideas; there comes a time when he necessarily loses his teeth, hair and ideas.

The punishment of criminals should be of use; when a man is hanged he is good for nothing.

Superstition sets the whole world in flames, but philosophy douses them.

To pray to God is to flatter oneself that with words one can alter nature.