There is said to be no greater figure who has summed up the Enlightenment age than the French philisophe Francois – Marie Arout who worked under the pen name Voltaire. Voltaire was not only a philisophe of the Enlightenment, but was a playwright, historian, poet, and writer as well. During his career which lasted about 60 years in 18th century, his writings consisted of essays, poems, satires, and philosophical tales, all of which carried the same theme …showed first 75 words of 1251 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1251 total…Leibniz philosophy of optimism. “One must cultivate his own garden,” as stated by Candide, attacks not only optimism, but pessimism as well, and leads one to believe that Voltaire is trying to convey that one must not be wholly optimistic, or pessimistic, or skeptical, or cynical (Sareil 143). Voltaire’s writings were extremely influential. He was a writer who truly understood the present, and used his artistic ability to state philosophies, and stimulate the Enlightenment age.