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Quote by Blaise Pascal

“We need not have the loftiest mind to understand that here is no lasting and real satisfaction, that our pleasures are only vanity, that our evils are infinite, and, lastly, that death, which threatens us every moment, must infallibly place us within a few years under the dreadful necessity of being forever either annihilated or unhappy.”

Quote by Blaise Pascal

Author

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and theologian. He was born on June 19, 1623, and died on August 19, 1662. Pascal's contributions to mathematics were particularly significant, with groundbreaking work in probability theory, analytical geometry, and early calculus. more

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“Without [diversion] we would be in a state of weariness, and this weariness would spur us on to seek a more solid means of escaping from it. But diversion amuses us, and leads us unconsciously to death.”

Mean States Would Be Death Sadness Escaping Spurs Weariness Diversion

Book:Pascal's Pensées

Source: Pascal's Pensées

“When the British came to Ibo land, for instance, at the beginning of the 20th century, and defeated the men in pitched battles in different places, and set up their administrations, the men surrendered. And it was the women who led the first revolt.”

Men Firsts Different Land Century Battle British Instance Administration Defeated 20th Century Revolt Different Place

Author:Chinua Achebe

“Nothing is so important to man as his own state; nothing is so formidable to him as eternity. And thus it is unnatural that thereshould be men indifferent to the loss of their existence and to the perils of everlasting suffering.”

Men Important States Death Suffering Loss Existence Hell Eternity Indifference Indifferent Everlasting Peril Be A Man Unnatural Formidable

Book:Pascal's Pensees

Source: Pascal's Pensees

“All great amusements are dangerous to the Christian life; but among all those which the world has invented there is none more to be feared than the theater. It is a representation of the passions so natural and so delicate that it excites them and gives birth to them in our hearts, and, above all, to that of love.”

World Love Giving Heart Christian Passion Natural Dangerous Birth Theater Christian Life Delicate Representation Amusement

Book:Pascal's Pensées: Selections

Source: Pascal's Pensées: Selections

“We do not rest satisfied with the present.... So imprudent we are that we wander in the times which are not ours and do not thinkof the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us.”

Dream Hope Painful Satisfied Wander Idle

Book:Thoughts, Letters & Minor Works

Source: Thoughts, Letters & Minor Works

“We know then the existence and nature of the finite, because we also are finite and have extension. We know the existence of the infinite and are ignorant of its nature, because it has extension like us, but not limits like us. But we know neither the existence nor the nature of God, because he has neither extension nor limits.”

Knows God Existence Limits Infinite Ignorant Infinity Extensions Finite

Book:Pensées

Source: Pensées

“Nothing is more dastardly than to act with bravado toward God.”

God Bravery Cowardice Bravado

Author:Blaise Pascal

“Eloquence is a way of saying things in such a way, first, that those to whom we speak may listen to them without pain and with pleasure, and second, that they feel themselves interested, so that self-love leads them more willingly to reflection upon it.”

Way Feels Firsts May Self Pain Speak Pleasure Self Love Reflection Persuasion Eloquence Without Pain

Author:Blaise Pascal

“True eloquence makes light of eloquence, true morality makes light of morality; that is to say, the morality of the judgment, which has no rules, makes light of the morality of the intellect.... To make light of philosophy is to be a true philosopher.”

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Book:Thoughts

Source: Thoughts

“Sneezing absorbs all the functions of the soul just as much as the [sexual] act, but we do not draw from it the same conclusions against the greatness of man, because it is involuntary; although we bring it about, we do so involuntarily. It is not for the sake of the thing in itself but for another end, and is therefore not a sign of man's weakness, or his subjection to this act.”

Men Soul Ends Sex Greatness Draws Weakness Function Sake Conclusion Involuntary Subjection Greatness Of Man Sneezing

Book:Pascal Pensées

Source: Pascal Pensées