Blaise Pascal

Philosopher

1623-06-19 – 1662-08-19

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, and philosopher whose work influenced probability theory and modern science. He is also known for philosophical and theological writings including Pensees.

Quotes by Blaise Pascal

We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves and in our own being; we desire to live an imaginary life in the mind of others, and for this purpose we endeavour to shine. We labour unceasingly to adorn and preserve this imaginary existence, and neglect the real. And if we possess calmness, or generosity, or truthfulness, we are eager to make it known, so as to attach these virtues to that imaginary existence. We would rather separate them from ourselves to join them to it; and we would willingly be cowards in order to acquire the reputation of being brave. A great proof of the nothingness of our being, not to be satisfied with the one without the other, and to renounce the one for the other! For he would be infamous who would not die to preserve his honour.
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Our intellect holds the same position in the world of thought as our body occupies in the expanse of nature.
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The infinite distance between the mind & the body is a symbol of the distance that is infinitely more, between the intellect & love, for love is divine.
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Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because by it we discover both God and our wretched state.
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The heart has its order, the mind has its own, which uses principles and demonstrations. The heart has a different one. We do not prove that we ought to be loved by setting out in order the causes of love; that would be absurd.
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All things can be deadly to us, even the things made to serve us; as in nature walls can kill us, and stairs can kill us, if we do not walk circumspectly.
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Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything.
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Nature has made all her truths independent of one another. Our art makes one dependent on the other.
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Lust is the source of all our actions, and humanity.
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I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.
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There is a certain standard of grace and beauty which consists in a certain relation between our nature... and the thing which pleases us.
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There is nothing we can now call our own, for what we call so is the effect of art; crimes are made by decrees of the senate, or by the votes of the people; and as here-to-fore we are burdened by vices, so now we are oppressed by laws.
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All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.
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Few friendships would survive if each one knew what his friend says of him behind his back
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He no longer loves the person whom he loved ten years ago. I quite believe it. She is no longer the same, nor is he. He was young, and she also; she is quite different. He would perhaps love her yet, if she were what she was then.
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Men spend their time in following a ball or a hare it is the pleasure even of kings.
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Since we cannot know all there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.
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No religion except ours has taught that man is born in sin none of the philosophical sects has admitted it none therefore has spoken the truth
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There are three sources of belief: reason, custom, inspiration.
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If we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural. If we offend the principles of reason our religion will be absurd and ridiculous . . . There are two equally dangerous extremes: to exclude reason, to admit nothing but reason.
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