Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Thus so wretched is man that he would weary even without any cause for weariness... and so frivolous is he that, though full of a thousand reasons for weariness, the least thing, such as playing billiards or hitting a ball, is sufficient enough to amuse him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Humans are inherently restless and easily distracted, often finding amusement in trivial activities despite deeper existential struggles.
This quote by Blaise Pascal reflects on the human condition, emphasizing the innate restlessness and dissatisfaction that people experience. Pascal suggests that man is so burdened by his existential plight that even in the absence of substantial reasons to feel weary, he finds himself tired. Yet, paradoxically, he can easily distract himself with trivial pursuits, such as games or lighthearted activities, highlighting a contrast between profound discontent and the pursuit of fleeting pleasures.
Themes
ExistentialDistractionHuman ConditionRestlessnessAmusement
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the nature of happiness, this quote could illustrate the search for meaning amid trivial distractions.
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.
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
Nobody can be exactly me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.
Tallulah BankheadRead
I only have 'yes' men around me. Who needs 'no' men?
Mae WestRead
Attachment and aversion are the root cause of karma, and karma originates from infatuation. Karma is the root cause of birth and death, and these are said to be the source of misery. None can escape the effect of their own past karma.
MahaviraRead
I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.
Dwight L. MoodyRead
I thought: hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like roads across the earth. For actually the earth had no roads to begin with, but when many men pass one way, a road is made.
Lu XunRead
Every new development for the last three centuries has brought men closer to a state of affairs in which absolutely nothing would be recognized in the whole world as possessing a claim to obedience except the authority of the State. The majority of people in Europe obey nothing else.
Simone WeilRead