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Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.
Blaise Pascal
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Imagination can lead to misconceptions and false beliefs in humans.

Blaise Pascal's quote highlights the idea that imagination, while a powerful tool for creativity, can also mislead individuals into believing falsehoods and errors. It serves as a reminder that our perceptions may not always align with reality and that skepticism towards our imaginative impulses is necessary to avoid deception.

Themes

ImaginationDeceptionErrorFalsehoodReality

In practice

Example use cases

Discussing the role of creativity in innovation at a business seminar.

More from Blaise Pascal

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
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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.
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Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
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Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
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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.
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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?
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