Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the skepticism and fear people have towards the truth of religion.
Blaise Pascal's quote highlights the complex relationship many individuals have with religion. It suggests that while some may outwardly express disdain or contempt for religious beliefs, it often stems from a deeper fear of acknowledging the possibility that those beliefs could actually hold truth. This reaction reveals an internal struggle between belief and disbelief, where the fear of the implications of religious truth can provoke hostility.
Themes
ReligionSkepticismFearTruthBelief
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about faith and spirituality, one might quote Pascal to emphasize the fear underlying disbelief.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes βIf 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
I don't want to prove anything; I merely want to live, to do no one harm but myself. I have the right to do that, haven't I?
Leo TolstoyRead
Every human soul has seen, perhaps before their birth, pure forms such as justice, temperance, beauty and all the great moral qualities which we hold in honour. We are moved towards what is good by the faint memory of these forms, simple and calm and blessed, which we saw once in a pure, clear light, being pure ourselves.
Iris MurdochRead
The endless, useless urge to look on life comprehensively, to take a bird's-eye view of ourselves and judge the dimensions of what we have or have not done: this is life as landscape, or life as rΓ©sumΓ©. But life is incremental, and though a worthwhile life is a gathering together of all that one is, good and bad, successful and not, the paradox is that we can never really see this one thing that all of our increments (and decrements, I suppose) add up to.
Christian WimanRead
The whole art of war consists in getting at what is on the other side of the hill.
Duke Of WellingtonRead
L.A. runs on optimism, enthusiasm and flattery. I think you can go a little bit crazy. I've heard people say there's a limit to the number of years you can stay in this city without going slightly mad. It's just too damn sunny in every dimension - weather-wise, socially and professionally.
Hugh LaurieRead
But still, everything is for Jesus; so like that everything is beautiful, even though it is difficult.
Mother TeresaRead