Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
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.
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.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes →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.
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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?
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