Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, in his satirical masterwork Candide, critiques both society and humanity wit little mercy. The author obviously seeks to expose all of the human race"s self-deceptions and weaknesses, but he does so with great humor. Voltaire gives delight with his humor while planting the deeper message about the fallibility and corruption of humanity. This contradiction holds the power of Voltaire"s writing. Candide provides a horrific portrait of the human condition, but it does so with preposterous and outlandish humor. Voltaire especially intends to criticize the popular idea of his era that sees a rational order in the...
repeated claim that "we must cultivate our garden" 402 means in part that human beings should deal productively and responsibly with life as it is presented to them on a daily basis. Whether life is good or evil should not be the defining standard by which human beings act.

Evil certainly exists in the world but every human being can effectively combat it by doing good in his own personal life, by nurturing rather than destructive behavior. Voltaire apparently agrees with the Turk that tending one"s garden "keeps us from the three great evils, boredom, vice, and poverty" 401.