Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Faith is different from proof; the latter is human, the former is a Gift from God.
Interpretation
Faith transcends empirical evidence and is considered a divine blessing.
In this quote, Blaise Pascal differentiates between faith and proof, suggesting that while proof is derived from human reasoning and evidence, faith is a spiritual gift that cannot be attained through rational means alone. This concept emphasizes the importance of faith in religious and philosophical contexts, as something that is given rather than something that can be earned or scientifically verified.
In practice
In a sermon about the importance of belief in difficult times.
Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
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.
Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
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.
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?
I have no doubt concerning that Supreme Goodness, who is so eager to share His blessings, or of that everlasting love which makes Him more eager to bestow perfection on us than we are to receive it.
Sometimes I wonder if the semi-conscious agenda of the media is to get between people and their souls. It is the the soul with its myriad tiny nerve endings that notices the neglected pathos, poignancy and practicality that lies at the heart of life. It's as if the media are somehow irritated and envious that anonymous people should have the quiet brilliance of their rich and sustainable inner lives.
Our countrymen have all the folly of the ass and all the passiveness of the sheep.
The thing about talking about human rights is that when one bears in mind the sharp end of it, one does not want to worry too much about semantics.
The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its only purpose is to protect exploitation.
It's not that humans and non-humans are identical... but the lack of understanding that led to the slave trade is the same lack of understanding many people have about animals today. When slaves were brought over from Africa, many people believed they were not humans, that they didn't have feelings. Many people believe that primates and other animals don't have feelings, too, but they do.
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