It is proved...that things cannot be other than they are, for since everything was made for a purpose, it follows that everything is made for the best purpose.

What a pessimist you are!" exclaimed Candide.
"That is because I know what life is," said Martin.

Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die. [Fr., La satire ment sur les gens de lettres pendant leur vie, et l'eloge ment apres leur mort.]

Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die.

I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it."

(Letter to Étienne Noël Damilaville, May 16, 1767)

If grass is greener on the other side, why wait at this side of the fence?