--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Excellently observed\", answered Candide…" description: "\"Excellently observed\", answered Candide; \"but let us cultivate our garden.\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png" --- # Excellently observed", answered Candide; "but let us… ![“Excellently observed", answered Candide; "but let us cultivate our garden.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png) > “Excellently observed", answered Candide; "but let us cultivate our garden.” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating one’s garden symbolizes focusing on personal improvement rather than abstract speculation. **In simple terms:** Focus on personal growth instead of endless debate. Key Takeaway Work on your own life. Themes philosophy personal development pragmatism Mood reflective practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - skill building - mental health - community projects Key Concepts existentialism self‑care Questions to Reflect On - What personal garden can you tend today? - How does focusing on self improve society? A Different Perspective Neglecting broader societal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answered Candide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-candide-2285010/) [Candide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candide/) [Cultivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivate/) [Cultivate Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivate-garden-426667/) [Excellently Observed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellently-observed-518885/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Let Cultivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-cultivate-790344/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Let us cultivate our garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/let-us-cultivate-our-garden/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We must cultivate our own garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-must-cultivate-our-own-garden/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Beautiful maiden,” answered Candide, “when a man is in love, is jealous, and has been flogged by the Inquisition, he becomes lost to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/beautiful-maiden-answered-candide-when-a-man-is-in-love-is-jealous/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Learn to cultivate your own garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/learn-to-cultivate-your-own-garden/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is up to us to cultivate our garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-up-to-us-to-cultivate-our-garden/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We must cultivate our own garden. When man was put in the garden of Eden he was put there so that he should work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-must-cultivate-our-own-garden-when-man-was-put-in-the-garden-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Let's cultivate an environment, not just in beauty pageants but in society in general, where we argue like we're right but listen like we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/let-s-cultivate-an-environment-not-just-in-beauty-pageants-but-in/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [Distractions must be conquered or they will conquer us. So let us cultivate simplicity; let us walk in the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/distractions-must-be-conquered-or-they-will-conquer-us-so-let-us/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [That was excellently observed’, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/that-was-excellently-observed-say-i-when-i-read-a-passage-in-an/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To cultivate a garden is to walk with God, to go hand in hand with nature in some of her most beautiful processes, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/to-cultivate-a-garden-is-to-walk-with-god-to-go-hand-in-hand-with/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Cultivate your garden Do not depend upon teachers to educate you follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely, express yourself, make your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/cultivate-your-garden-do-not-depend-upon-teachers-to-educate-you/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Cultivate your garden. Do not depend upon teachers to educate you... follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely, express yourself, make your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/cultivate-your-garden-do-not-depend-upon-teachers-to-educate-you-2/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [To cultivate a garden is. . . to go hand in hand with Nature in some of her most beautiful processes, to learn something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/to-cultivate-a-garden-is-to-go-hand-in-hand-with-nature-in-some-of/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I cultivate my garden, and my garden cultivates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/i-cultivate-my-garden-and-my-garden-cultivates-me/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Candide quotes > [Rereading Candide, I was struck by the link between optimism and the optimal, the idea that we have been placed in this optimal world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/rereading-candide-i-was-struck-by-the-link-between-optimism-and-the/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) > [ “The shrieks were coming from two quite naked girls, who were pursued by a pair of apes snapping at their bottoms. \[...\] So he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-shrieks-were-coming-from-two-quite-naked-girls-who-were-pursued/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/optimism-and-happiness-are-not-the-same-thing-but-they-are-becoming/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) > [All men are by nature free; you have therefore an undoubted liberty to depart whenever you please, but will have many and great difficulties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/all-men-are-by-nature-free-you-have-therefore-an-undoubted-liberty-to/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Everything is not as good as in El-Dorado; but everything is not so bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/everything-is-not-as-good-as-in-el-dorado-but-everything-is-not-so-bad/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/optimism-said-cacambo-what-is-that-alas-replied-candide-it-is-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Dogs, monkeys, and parrots are a thousand times less miserable than we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/dogs-monkeys-and-parrots-are-a-thousand-times-less-miserable-than-we/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [You're a bitter man," said Candide. That's because I've lived," said Martin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/you-re-a-bitter-man-said-candide-that-s-because-i-ve-lived-said-martin/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“It is man´s faith to live either on agonies of fear and turmoil or in the prostration of boredom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-man-s-faith-to-live-either-on-agonies-of-fear-and-turmoil-or-in/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Hyper-selectionism has been with us for a long time in various guises; for it represents the late nineteenth century's scientific version of the myth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/hyper-selectionism-has-been-with-us-for-a-long-time-in-various-guises/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I should like to know which is worse: to be ravished a hundred times by pirates, and have a buttock cut off, and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-should-like-to-know-which-is-worse-to-be-ravished-a-hundred-times/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [What! Have you no monks to teach, to dispute, to govern, to intrigue and to burn people who do not agree with them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/what-have-you-no-monks-to-teach-to-dispute-to-govern-to-intrigue-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We must cultivate our own garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-must-cultivate-our-own-garden/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“I have no more than twenty acres of ground," he replied, "the whole of which I cultivate myself with the help of my children;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-have-no-more-than-twenty-acres-of-ground-he-replied-the-whole-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Translating Candide into tweets has really deepened my appreciation of his writing - it wouldn't work so well with nineteenth-century authors. Every single sentence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/translating-candide-into-tweets-has-really-deepened-my-appreciation/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) [Browse all 32 Candide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Excellently observed\", answered Candide; \"but let us cultivate our garden.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/excellently-observed-answered-candide-but-let-us-cultivate-our-garden/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candide" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/excellently-observed-answered-candide-but-let-us-cultivate-our-garden/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/voltaire-173_candide_excellently-observed-answered-candide-bu_1243118.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Excellently observed\", answered Candide; \"but let us cultivate our garden.” — Voltaire", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Excellently observed\", answered Candide; \"but let...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/excellently-observed-answered-candide-but-let-us-cultivate-our-garden/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/excellently-observed-answered-candide-but-let-us-cultivate-our-garden/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```