Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Silence. All human unhappiness comes from not knowing how to stay quietly in a room.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that much of human unhappiness stems from our inability to be comfortable with solitude and silence.
Blaise Pascal's quote highlights a profound insight into the nature of human discontent. It suggests that many people find discomfort and unhappiness in solitude, often resorting to distractions or noise to escape their own thoughts. By implying that the root of this unhappiness is the struggle to simply be present with oneself, Pascal encourages introspection and the acceptance of silence as a valuable and necessary state of being.
Themes
SilenceHappinessSolitudeIntrospectionUnhappiness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a mental health seminar to emphasize the importance of embracing quiet moments.
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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