Becoming Quote by Mark Ravenhill
“Optimism and happiness are not the same thing, but they are becoming interchangeable, and it seemed to me that Voltaire's Candide gave me a way into something important happening in modern-day culture.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Cut, 2006
Optimism and happiness differ, yet they increasingly overlap, as illustrated by Candide’s influence on modern culture.
In simple terms: Optimism and happiness are related but distinct.
Key Takeaway
Recognize their overlap and distinct roles.
Themes
optimism
happiness
culture
literature
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- media analysis
- personal development
- public speaking
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
sociology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does Candide teach about realistic optimism?
- How does modern culture blend optimism with happiness?
A Different Perspective
Optimism can mask underlying issues if not balanced with realism.
![“I have adapted the whole book [Candid] into tweets of 140 characters, and these are being sent out daily, at the rate of eight tweets per day .” quote by Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/77b/mark-ravenhill-28127_140-character_i-have-adapted-the-whole-book-candid-int_1119776.jpg)
![“Even within single sentences, there are sudden changes of register. And when the travellers go to Venice, they see a play by Voltaire! This is a novel [Candid] which has narratives within narratives, such as when Cunégonde recounts her story.” quote by Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d9a/mark-ravenhill-28127_books_even-within-single-sentences-there-are-s_1366468.jpg)
![“There is the question of language. Although the play [Candid] is not written in strict verse form, there is an underlying beat of rhyming couplets, with echoes of Pope and the tradition of eighteenth-century philosophical verse.” quote by Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/628/mark-ravenhill-28127_beats_there-is-the-question-of-language-althou_1657954.jpg)
