Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.
Interpretation
Understanding God is different from truly loving Him.
Blaise Pascal's quote highlights the distinction between mere intellectual knowledge of God and a deep, heartfelt love for Him. It suggests that one can have a great understanding of theological concepts and doctrines, yet still lack a personal and loving relationship with the divine, emphasizing that true love goes beyond knowledge alone.
In practice
In a sermon about the importance of connecting with God, you could use this quote to illustrate the difference between understanding divine concepts and developing a loving relationship.
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?
The secret story is the one we'll never know, although we're living it from day to day, thinking we're alive, thinking we've got it all under control and the stuff we overlook doesn't matter.
At the end of the day, is Singapore society better or worse off? That's the test.
Americanization means the process of becoming an American. It means civic incorporation, becoming a part of the polity - becoming one of us. But that does not mean conformity. We are more than a melting pot, we are a kaleidoscope, where every turn of history refracts new light on the old promise.
Principally I hate and detest that animal called man; although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth.
I have always struggled, with the sole intention of ceasing to struggle. Result: zero.
Bad people...are in conflict with themselves; they desire one thing and will another, like the incontinent who choose harmful pleasures instead of what they themselves believe to be good.
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