Why Voltaire Said: You Must Cultivate Your Own Garden

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While I agree with Voltaire to an extent, I also concur with Plato when he said that "the price good people pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Therefore we shouldn't bury our heads in the sand either, because eventually the literal gardens we've cultivated will be stolen or burned, like the Shire almost was in LOTR.

This really speaks to me. I used to get panic attacks from watching the news so my therapist told me to stop and do something else constructive so I took up exercise instead and lost 200lbs in a year.

After crying today about how students treat me as their teacher, I felt down about humanity and being overworked for no gains. But, today I feel happy at least my home and my own ‘garden’ is peaceful. Just what I needed. Thanks

being french, candide was one of the book we had to read in high school lol. it is also being said that the garden refers to knowledge and one must cultivate it.

Actually working to contribute to a better world, and worrying about the world are entirely two different things. Knowing that you don't have any control over the world, and you may not be able to control the outcome, but still you can make a contribution, will spear you from disappointment and frustration. After all, without those who had hope for a better world and worked toward it, we might have been still living in dark ages. But most importantly, you should be able to switch off from the outside world when necessary, and for that you need to have your 'own garden'.

That's fitting, as gardening became quite trendy in lockdown. Metaphorically speaking, this might suggest it takes isolation to finally let ourselves cultivate our own gardens.

“Shine light in one corner of the world” Shunryu Suzuki

This book has been my shelf book for many years, and i still have a smile when i read it. Only about 150 pages, but so dense, funny and profound.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” ― Voltaire

This is something I've been thinking of a lot lately. Quarantine has really put into perspective the importance of cultivating your own garden and living for yourself first and foremost

i think people ignore the generosity, kindness and empathy in the Turk story. Yes he cultivates his own garden, but he also shares his bounty and knowledge with the strangers. He feeds them and teaches them to be like him, if they so choose.

Cultivate my own garden. Can't argue with that. No one but ourselves can make ourselves grow.

"If you value freedom over all, you must live outside of society. "

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ― Voltaire

It's important to remember that Voltaire wrote this in the final century of absolute monarchs in Western civilization. The rise of notional citizen rule post-1776 changed the equation, although his basic concept ("don't stress that the greater world disappoints you; none of it matters if your personal life is in disarray") still has value.

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change – So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country, but it too seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now I realize as I lie on my deathbed, if I had only changed myself first, then by example I might have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement I would then have been able to better my country, And who knows, I might have even changed the world. - From the Tomb of an Anglican Bishop.

Essentially Voltaire was saying take care of yourself before anyone else.

focus on what you can control & what you have been given and make the best of it. That's:_TSOLTimer: "cultivate your own garden"

Rumi — 'Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.'