Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
People are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves than by those found by others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Individuals tend to believe ideas they arrive at on their own more than those suggested to them by others.
This quote by Blaise Pascal highlights the importance of personal discovery in the process of persuasion and belief formation. When people come to their own conclusions or insights, they feel a greater sense of ownership and conviction towards those ideas, in contrast to accepting arguments or reasoning presented by others without personal engagement.
Themes
PersuasionDiscoveryBeliefReasonOwnership
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to encourage individuals to seek their own answers.
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
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