Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
I can well conceive a man without hands, feet, head. But I cannot conceive man without thought; he would be a stone or a brute.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Thought is essential to humanity; without it, we lose our essence and become lifeless.
In this quote, Blaise Pascal emphasizes the fundamental role of thought in defining what it means to be human. He argues that even if a person were physically incomplete, they could still retain their humanity through their ability to think; without thought, one would be reduced to mere existence, akin to an inanimate object or an animal devoid of higher reasoning capabilities.
Themes
ThoughtHumanityExistenceIntellectPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a debate about the importance of education and critical thinking.
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.
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
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