Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory.
Interpretation
The struggle itself is more fulfilling than the achievement of success.
Blaise Pascal highlights the intrinsic value of the effort and struggle we put into our endeavors, suggesting that the act of fighting for a cause or goal is what truly brings us satisfaction, rather than merely attaining victory. This perspective shifts the focus from outcomes to the journey itself, inviting us to appreciate the challenges we face and the personal growth that comes with them.
In practice
During a motivational speech about resilience, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of the journey.
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?
If we esteem them too highly, good works can become the greatest idolatry.
The Universe is a dream dreamed by a single dreamer where all the dream characters dream too.
What of it? If I die, I die. It will be no great loss to the world, and I am thoroughly bored with life. I am like a man yawning at a ball; the only reason he does not go home to bed is that his carriage has not arrived yet.
Faith in the resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being; the cry for unending life which is a part of the person is indeed answered... God exists: that is the real message of Easter. Anyone who even begins to grasp what this means also knows what it means to be redeemed.
Why is it that all men who are outstanding in philosophy, poetry or the arts are melancholic?
Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new.
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