“Optimism,” said Cacambo, “What is that?” “Alas!” replied Candide, “It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.”
― Voltaire, Candide
And pessimism, would be… even in the cheeriest of company, with drink and food abound, with all the world’s ills washed away with tankards and mugs, that one can still obstinately return to the knowledge that death is inevitable.
I haven’t been able to read much of Voltaire, but Candide is one of my favorite books. The satire is ridiculously good.
Huh, now that you mention it, a lot of (old) satire could be thought of as a precursor to the modern rap battle. Have you ever read Lucian’s Dialouges of the Dead? If not you’d probably find more “murderous” quality lines. 😂
Memoir of a Writer 
And pessimism, would be… even in the cheeriest of company, with drink and food abound, with all the world’s ills washed away with tankards and mugs, that one can still obstinately return to the knowledge that death is inevitable.
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Probably the best piece of satire I have ever read.
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Same!
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Voltaire has so many great quotes its unbelievable. One of my favourite’s is:
“I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it.”
I feel like stuff like this is almost a precursor to modern rap battle in its attitude, aim and style; those couple of lines are murderous.
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I haven’t been able to read much of Voltaire, but Candide is one of my favorite books. The satire is ridiculously good.
Huh, now that you mention it, a lot of (old) satire could be thought of as a precursor to the modern rap battle. Have you ever read Lucian’s Dialouges of the Dead? If not you’d probably find more “murderous” quality lines. 😂
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Haha. I am unfamiliar but I’ll check it out. I think Nietzsche also would have fared pretty well in a roasting match/battle rap.
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I’ve read a little Nietzsche and only because I had to, hah. I’m not super familiar with his wit.
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