In order to enter into a real knowledge of your condition, consider it in this image: A man was cast by a tempest upon an unknown island, the inhabitants of which were in trouble to find Blaise Pascal More Quotes by Blaise Pascal More Quotes From Blaise Pascal All the good maxims which are in the world fail when applied to one's self. Blaise Pascal failingselfworld The weakness of human reason appears more evidently in those who know it not than in those who know it. Blaise Pascal weaknesshumansreason The authority of reason is far more imperious than that of a master; for he who disobeys the one is unhappy, but he who disobeys the other is a fool. Blaise Pascal foolunhappyreason Equality of possessions is no doubt right, but, as men could not make might obey right, they have made right obey might. Blaise Pascal doubtmightmen The mind naturally makes progress, and the will naturally clings to objects; so that for want of right objects, it will attach itself to wrong ones. Blaise Pascal progressmindwant The finite is annihilated in the presence of the infinite, and becomes a pure nothing. So our spirit before God, so our justice before divine justice. Blaise Pascal divine-justiceinfinitespirit That dog is mine said those poor children; that place in the sun is mine; such is the beginning and type of usurpation throughout the earth. Blaise Pascal earthdogchildren To ridicule philosophy is truly philosophical. Blaise Pascal ridiculephilosophicalphilosophy To scorn philosophy is truly to philosophize. Blaise Pascal scornphilosophy When we do not know the truth of a thing, it is good that there should exist a common error which determines the mind of man, as, for example, the moon, to which is attributed the change of seasons, the progress of diseases, etc. For the chief malady of man is a restless curiosity about things which he cannot understand; and it is not so bad for him to be in error as to be curious to no purpose. Blaise Pascal moontruthmen Mediocrity makes the most of its native possessions. Blaise Pascal nativemediocritypossession Death is easier to bear without thinking of it, than the thought of death without peril. Blaise Pascal bearsdeaththinking Death itself is less painful when it comes upon us unawares than the bare contemplation of it, even when danger is far distant. Blaise Pascal contemplationpainfuldeath Is it courage in a dying man to go, in weakness and in agony, to affront an almighty and eternal God? Blaise Pascal agonymendeath Force and not opinion is the queen of the world; but it is opinion that uses the force. Blaise Pascal queensuseworld Who confers reputation? who gives respect and veneration to persons, to books, to great men? Who but Opinion? How utterly insufficient are all the riches of the world without her approbation! Blaise Pascal givingmenbook Orthodoxy on one side of the Pyrenees may be heresy on the other. Blaise Pascal orthodoxysidesmay Extremes are for us as though they were not, and we are not within their notice. They escape us, or we them. This is our true state; this is what makes us incapable of certain knowledge and of absolute ignorance... This is our natural condition, and yet most contrary to our inclination; we burn with desire to find solid ground and an ultimate sure foundation whereon to build a tower reaching to the Infinite. But our whole groundwork cracks, and the earth opens to abysses. Blaise Pascal ignorancedesireknowledge If a man loves a woman for her beauty, does he love her? No; for the smallpox, which destroys her beauty without killing her, causes his love to cease. And if any one loves me for my judgment or my memory, does he really love me? No; for I can lose these qualities without ceasing to be. Blaise Pascal lovemenmemories If man should commence by studying himself, he would see how impossible it is to go further. Blaise Pascal studyimpossiblemen
