Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the relationship between justice and strength, suggesting that we have compromised justice to make it align with power.
Blaise Pascal's quote implies that in a world where true justice cannot achieve strength on its own, we have instead reshaped our concept of justice to fit the existing power structures. This highlights a moral dilemma where societal norms may prioritize might over fairness, thereby questioning the integrity of justice in a world influenced by power dynamics.
Themes
JusticeStrengthPowerMoralityEthics
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on social justice, you might quote Pascal to highlight how power influences our understanding of what is fair.
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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