Blaise Pascal Quotes
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Description of man: dependence, longing for independence, need.
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All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
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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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Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have different effects.
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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.
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Jesus Christ came to tell men that they have no enemies but themselves.
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Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness.
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Once your soul has been enlarged by a truth, it can never return to its original size.
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Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known.
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It is of dangerous consequence to represent to man how near he is to the level of beasts, without showing him at the same time his greatness. It is likewise dangerous to let him see his greatness without his meanness. It is more dangerous yet to leave him ignorant of either; but very beneficial that he should be made sensible of both.
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Force rules the world-not opinion; but it is opinion that makes use of force.
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Not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ.
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Curiosity is only vanity. Most frequently we wish not to know, but to talk. We would not take a sea voyage for the sole pleasure of seeing without hope of ever telling.
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Not to be mad is another form of madness.
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Ugly deeds are most estimable when hidden.
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There is a lot of difference between tempting and leading into error. God tempts but does not lead into error. To tempt is to provide opportunities for us to do certain things if we do not love God, but putting us under no necessity to do so. To lead into error is to compel a man necessarily to conclude and follow a falsehood.
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To speak freely of mathematics, I find it the highest exercise of the spirit; but at the same time I know that it is so useless that I make little distinction between a man who is only a mathematician and a common artisan. Also, I call it the most beautiful profession in the world; but it is only a profession.
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All I know is that I must soon die, but what I know least is this very death which I cannot escape.
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The truth about nature we discover with our brains. The truth about religion we discover with our hearts.
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All our troubles come from not being able to be alone.
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Men seek rest in a struggle against difficulties; and when they have conquered these, rest becomes insufferable.
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Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth; give him too much, the same.
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It is a dangerous experiment to call in gratitude as an ally to love. Love is a debt which inclination always pays, obligation never.
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Each one is all in all to himself; for being dead, all is dead to him.