Meanwhile, all the travellers whom Candide met in the inns…
““Meanwhile, all the travellers whom Candide met in the inns along his route, said to him, "We go to Paris." This general eagerness at length gave him, too, a desire to see this capital; and it was not so very great a détour from the road to Venice. He entered Paris by the suburb of St. Marceau, and fancied that he was in the dirtiest village of Westphalia. Scarcely was Candide arrived at his inn, than he found himself attacked by a slight illness, caused by fatigue. As he had a very large diamond on his finger, and the people of the inn had taken notice of a prodigiously heavy box among his baggage, there were two physicians to attend him, though he had never sent for them, and two devotees who warmed his broths. "I remember," Martin said, "also to have been sick at Paris in my first voyage; I was very poor, thus I had neither friends, devotees, nor doctors, and I recovered.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Candide’s journey to Paris brings illness and unexpected aid, highlighting the absurdity of travel and the reliance on strangers for help.
In simple terms: Travel brings hardship and unexpected help.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty on journeys.
Themes
travel
adventure
humanity
Mood
ironic
philosophical
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- tourism
- expedition planning
- health preparedness
Key Concepts
philosophy
satire
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this say about human interdependence?
- How do we cope with unexpected illness?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on strangers can be risky.