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 are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that madness is an inherent part of human nature, and to not be mad would be an unnatural state.
Blaise Pascal's quote reflects on the complexities of human nature, proposing that madness is an integral aspect of what it means to be human. In this context, he implies that rationality without a touch of madness may not represent true human experience, as the emotional and irrational aspects are what make life rich and vivid. Thus, he prompts us to reconsider our understanding of sanity and insanity, and how they are intertwined in our existence.
Themes
MadnessHuman NatureSanityRationalityEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used to initiate a discussion about the nature of sanity and madness during a psychology class.
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.
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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?
Blaise PascalRead
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