Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
When everyone is moving towards depravity, no one seems to be moving, but if someone stops he shows up the others who are rushing on, by acting as a fixed point.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote illustrates the value of standing firm in one's principles, especially when faced with moral decline.
Blaise Pascal's quote suggests that in a society where general behavior is trending towards moral decay, it often feels as if no one is making significant choices. However, when a person decides to halt their rush towards depravity, they highlight the chaotic movement of others, thus serving as a moral anchor. This action not only demonstrates the importance of individual choice but also exposes the current state of society's values.
Themes
MoralityDepravityIndividualitySocietyPrinciples
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speech addressing youth about the importance of maintaining integrity amidst peer pressure.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes →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.
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
Similar quotes
The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire
Carl JungRead
What we must understand is that the industries, processes, and inventions created by modern science can be used either to subjugate or liberate. The choice is up to us.
Henry A. WallaceRead
Unless man is committed to the belief that all mankind are his brothers, then he labors in vain and hypocritically in the vineyards of equality.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Read
By believing passionately in that which doesn't exist, you create it and that which has not been sufficiently desired is what we call the non existent.
Nikos KazantzakisRead
Nothing human is finally calculable; even to ourselves we are strange.
Gore VidalRead
Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. It can be so, sometimes.
J. R. R. TolkienRead