QuoteProject
If we must not act save on a certainty, we ought not to act on religion, for it is not certain. But how many things we do on an uncertainty, sea voyages, battles!
Blaise Pascal
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that life is filled with uncertainties, yet we act on them regardless, including in matters of faith.

Blaise Pascal's quote reflects on the nature of human actions driven by certainty and uncertainty. He argues that while one should ideally only act on certainty, we frequently take actions based on uncertain outcomes, such as embarking on sea voyages or engaging in battles. In this context, he critiques the reliance on religion, as it is inherently uncertain, yet people still choose to act within that realm. This highlights the paradox of human behavior where we often embrace risk and uncertainty in various aspects of life, including the most critical and personal, like belief and faith.

Themes

CertaintyUncertaintyReligionActionsPhilosophyRisk

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a philosophy class discussion about decision-making.

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.
Blaise PascalRead
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.
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

History is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. What has happened before will perforce happen again.
George R. R. MartinRead
The man who has known pure joy, if only for a moment ... is the only man for whom affliction is something devastating. At the same time he is the only man who has not deserved the punishment. But, after all, for him it is no punishment; it is God holding his hand and pressing rather hard. For, if he remains constant, what he will discover buried deep under the sound of his own lamentations is the pearl of the silence of God.
Simone WeilRead
How we think about the world and - perhaps even more importantly - how we narrate it have a massive significance, therefore, a thing that happens and is not told ceases to exist and perishes.
Olga TokarczukRead
It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.
Saint AugustineRead
The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.
William JamesRead
The question is how much of your privacy and your convenience and your commerce do you want your nation's security apparatus to squeeze in order to keep you safe? And it is a choice that we have to make.
Michael HaydenRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.