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Those who are accustomed to judge by feeling do not understand the process of reasoning, because they want to comprehend at a glance and are not used to seeking for first principles. Those, on the other hand, who are accustomed to reason from first principles do not understand matters of feeling at all, because they look for first principles and are unable to comprehend at a glance.
Blaise Pascal
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote explores the contrast between emotional judgment and rational reasoning.

Blaise Pascal emphasizes the inherent conflict between those who rely on their feelings to make judgments and those who analyze situations through logical reasoning. He suggests that each group is limited in its understanding due to its focus: the emotionally driven individuals struggle with abstract reasoning, while rational thinkers fail to appreciate the nuances of emotional experiences.

Themes

ReasoningFeelingsJudgmentUnderstandingPrinciples

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophy class discussing the influence of emotions on decision-making.

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