Le Mondain

lyric by Voltaire

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July 20, 2026

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"Le Mondain" is a satirical poem by Voltaire, written in 1736. The title translates to "The Worldly" or "The Fashionable," reflecting its focus on the superficiality and vanities of society. The poem critiques the emptiness of worldly pursuits and contrasts them with more meaningful endeavors. It is characteristic of Voltaire's sharp wit and his role as a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, a period that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority and societal norms. Voltaire used his writings, including "Le Mondain," to challenge established institutions and advocate for tolerance and intellectual freedom.

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utopian poetry
…poems such as Voltaire’s “Le Mondain” (1736; “The Man of the World”), a French lyric that expresses the Enlightenment’s championing of the present time as better and more sophisticated than the ancient Greek Golden Age, which is depicted as primitive and ignorant.
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…poems such as Voltaire’s “Le Mondain” (1736; “The Man of the World”), a French lyric that expresses the Enlightenment’s championing of the present time as better and more sophisticated than the ancient Greek Golden Age, which is depicted as primitive and ignorant.
Read More