Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Custom is our nature. What are our natural principles but principles of custom?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our behaviors and principles are shaped by the customs we adopt.
Blaise Pascal emphasizes that customs play a foundational role in defining our nature and principles. He suggests that what we often consider our inherent beliefs or values are heavily influenced by societal customs, indicating that our understanding of 'natural' principles is not as innate as we may think but rather constructed by the customs we observe and follow.
Themes
CustomNaturePrinciplesSocietyInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical behavior, one might use this quote to underline how societal norms shape our perceptions of right and wrong.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes βIf 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.
Blaise PascalRead
Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
Blaise PascalRead
Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
Blaise PascalRead
If he exalts himself, I humble him. If he humbles himself, I exalt him. And I go on contradicting him Until he understands That he is a monster that passes all understanding.
Blaise PascalRead
What use is it to us to hear it said of a man that he has thrown off the yoke that he does not believe there is a God to watch over his actions, that he reckons himself the sole master of his behavior, and that he does not intend to give an account of it to anyone but himself?
Blaise PascalRead
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