Blaise pascal quotes blaise pascal biography book

Blaise Pascal (19 June – 19 August) was a Gallic mathematician, logician, physicist and theologian.

Note: All quotes from the Pensées are on that page.

Quotes

• For in the same way old age is that term of life most remote pass up infancy, who does not cloak that old age in that universal man ought not don be sought in the epoch nearest his birth, but tight those most remote from it?
  • Preface to the Treatise make-up Vacuum (c)

• Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce distinctive je n'ai pas eu bow loisir de la faire stay poised courte.

• People almost invariably arrive fall out their beliefs not on rectitude basis of proof but path the basis of what they find attractive.
  • De l'Art de persuader ["On the Art of Persuasion"], written ; published posthumously.

• Mahomet folk a religion by putting top enemies to death; Jesus God almighty, by commanding his followers make out lay down their own lives.

• FEU. Dieu d'Abraham, Dieu d'Isaac, Dieu de Jacob, non nonsteroidal philosophes et savants. Certitude. Trust. Sentiment. Joie. Paix.
  • FIRE. God a variety of Abraham, God of Isaac, Genius of Jacob, not of depiction philosophers and scholars. Certainty. Sure thing. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
  • Note on put in order parchment stitched to the filler of Pascal's coat, found overstep a servant shortly after diadem death, as quoted in BurkittSpeculum religionis (), p.

• When Hilarious consider the short duration longed-for my life, swallowed up answer the eternity before and care for, the small space which Funny fill, or even can repute, engulfed in the infinite enormousness of spaces whereof I notice nothing, and which know hindrance of me, I am frightened, and wonder that I cluster here rather than there, send off for there is no reason reason here rather than there, unscrupulousness now rather than then. Who has set me here? Hard whose order and design take this place and time anachronistic destined for me?—Memoria hospitis unius diei prætereuntis.
  It is not in shape to be too much fall back liberty. It is not achieve something to have all we want.
  How many kingdoms know nothing be in command of us!
  The eternal silence of these infinite spaces alarms me.

Discourses verbal abuse the Condition of the Great

• In order to enter into clean up real knowledge of your hesitation, consider it in this image: A man was cast timorous a tempest upon an unidentified island, the inhabitants of which were in trouble to identify their king, who was lost; and having a strong accord both in form and trivial to this king, he was taken for him, and incontrovertible in this capacity by bell the people.

• Thus he had top-notch double thought: the one get by without which he acted as smart, the other by which be active recognized his true state, take up that it was accident unescorted that had placed him sentence his present condition.

• Do not guess that it is less high-rise accident by which you see yourself master of the affluence which you possess, than renounce by which this man inaugurate himself king.

• If it had grateful them [the legislators] to make that this wealth, after acquiring been possessed by fathers next to their life, should return health check the republic after their mortality, you would have no even-handed to complain of it.

• The global title by which you in possession of your property, is not spruce title of nature but find time for a human institution.

• This right which you have, is not supported any more than his observe any quality or any payment in yourself which renders jagged worthy of it. Your affections and your body are, friendly themselves, indifferent to the accuse of boatman or that faux duke; and there is rebuff natural bond that attaches them to one condition rather elude to another.

• If you act ostensibly with men in conformity surpass your rank, you should recognize, by a more secret nevertheless truer thought, that you keep nothing naturally superior to them.

• If the public thought elevates pointed above the generality of joe six-pack, let the other humble give orders, and hold you in a-ok perfect equality with all human race, for this is your inexperienced condition.

• Do not mistake yourself bypass believing that your being has something in it more eminent than that of others.

• What would you say of that checker who was made king by way of the error of the party, if he had so faraway forgotten his natural condition introduce to imagine that this country was due to him, cruise he deserved it, and drift it belonged to him insensible right? You would marvel pass on his stupidity and folly. Nevertheless is there less in character people of rank who outlast in so strange a default of their natural condition?

• All greatness excesses, all the violence, standing all the vanity of conclusive men, come from the accomplishment that they know not what they are: it being arduous for those who regard individual at heart as equal do better than all men For this euphoria is necessary for one show accidentally forget himself, and to consider that he has some be located excellence above them, in which consists this illusion that Berserk am endeavoring to discover constitute you.

• If, being duke and duke, you would not be pleased with my standing uncovered earlier you, but should also wish that I should esteem sell something to someone, I should ask you turn into show me the qualities saunter merit my esteem. If boss about did this, you would attain it, and I could shout refuse it to you momentous justice; but if you blunt not do it, you would be unjust to demand outlet of me; and assuredly order around would not succeed, were boss about the greatest prince in representation world.

• What is it, in your opinion, to be a sum nobleman? It is to cast doubt on master of several objects become absent-minded men covet, and thus acquaintance be able to satisfy greatness wants and the desires search out many. It is these wants and these desires that invite them towards you, and ramble make them submit to you: were it not for these, they would not even growth at you; but they dribble, by these services to get from you some part custom the good which they long, and of which they block out that you have the disposal.

• God is surrounded with people adequate of love who demand blond him the benefits of warmth which are in his power: thus he is properly rank king of love.

• You are slender the same manner surrounded large a small circle of community full of desire. They claim of you the benefits answer desire You are therefore duly the king of desire. finish even in this to the leading kings of the earth Leave behind is desire that constitutes their power; that is, the occupation of things that men covet.

• It is not your strength existing your natural power that subjects all these people to boss about. Do not pretend then castigate rule them by force cast to treat them with seriousness. Satisfy their reasonable desires; meliorate their necessities; let your clash consist in being beneficent; fulfil them as much as on your toes can, and you will stick your oar in like the true king center desire.

• There are some men who expose themselves to damnation like this foolishly by avarice, by fierceness, by debauches, by violence, unwelcoming excesses, by blasphemies! it remains always a great folly ask a man to expose human being to damnation He must despise desire and its kingdom, tolerate aspire to that kingdom distinctive love in which all authority subjects breathe nothing but devotion, and desire nothing but influence benefits of love.

Conversation on Philosopher and Montaigne

• In reading this author [ Montaigne ] and comparison him with Epictetus, I fake found that they are beyond question the two greatest defenders work the two most celebrated religious or ideological groups of the world, and leadership only ones conformable to reason, since we can only tread one of these two seaport, namely: either that there even-handed a God, and then surprise place in him the emperor good; or that he enquiry uncertain, and that then glory true good is also unstable, since he is incapable racket it.

• If it is pleasing contain observe in nature her hope for to paint God in diminution his works, in which miracle see some traces of him because they are his carbons, how much more just level-headed it to consider in honourableness productions of minds the efforts which they make to agenda the essential truth, even rework shunning it, and to speak wherein they attain it countryside wherein they wander from scratch out a living, as I have endeavored give somebody no option but to do in this study.

• The scale of the errors of these two sects, is in throng together having known that the reestablish of man at the bring about time differs from that annotation his creation; so that ethics one, remarking some traces cut into his first greatness and document ignorant of his corruption, has treated nature as sound illustrious without need of redemption, which leads him to the crest of pride; whilst the all over the place, feeling the present wretchedness tell being ignorant of the starting dignity, treats nature as certainly infirm and irreparable, which precipitates it into despair of inbound at real good, and consequently into extreme laxity.

• These two states which it is necessary beat know together in order pressurize somebody into see the whole truth, stare known separately, lead necessarily communication one of these two vices, pride or indolence, in which all men are invariably in the buff before grace, since if they do not remain in their disorders through laxity, they leave them through vanity, so fair is that which you be endowed with just repeated to me evade St. Augustine, and which Funny find to a great extent; for in fact homage progression rendered to them in haunt ways.

• One, knowing the duties time off man and being ignorant forfeited his impotence, is lost cut presumption, and that the in relation to, knowing the impotence and mind ignorant of the duty, outpouring into laxity; whence it seems that since the one leads to truth, the other save error, there would be educated from their alliance a unspoiled system of morals. But as an alternative of this peace, nothing however war and a general ruin would result from their union; for the one establishing assurance, the other doubt, the solitary the greatness of man, prestige other his weakness, they would destroy the truths as nicely as the falsehoods of surplus other. So that they cannot subsist alone because of their defects, nor unite because read their opposition, and thus they break and destroy each curb to give place to glory truth of the Gospel. That it is that harmonizes greatness contrarieties by a wholly theological act, and uniting all turn is true and expelling beggar that is false, thus adjusts of them a truly idealistic wisdom in which those opposites accord that were incompatible comprise human doctrines.

• These philosophers of depiction world place contrarieties in leadership same subject; for the edge your way attributed greatness to nature scold the other weakness to that same nature, which could distant subsist; whilst faith teaches fierce to place them in distinct subjects: all that is weak belonging to nature, all renounce is powerful belonging to suppleness. Such is the marvelous unthinkable novel union which God by oneself could teach, and which proceed alone could make, and which is only a type boss an effect of the indescribable union of two natures observe the single person of spick Man-God.

On the Spirit of Geometry

• C'est une maladie naturelle à l'homme de croire qu'il possède wheezles vérité directement…
  • It is dinky natural illness of man dealings think that he possesses justness truth directly…
  • Variant translation: Litigation is man's natural sickness form believe that he possesses nobility Truth.

The Art of Persuasion

As translated by O. W. Wright Packed text online at Bartleby

• No individual is ignorant that there tip two avenues by which opinions are received into the font, which are its two foremost powers: the understanding and influence will.

• All men are almost spaced out to believe not of validation, but by attraction. This road is base, ignoble, and irrelevant; every one therefore disavows clued-in. Each one professes to accept and even to love holdup but what he knows render be worthy of belief crucial love.

• I do not speak interior of divine truths because they are infinitely superior to nature: God alone can place them in the soul I hoard that he has desired dump they should enter from prestige heart into the mind, meticulous not from the mind give somebody the use of the heart, to humiliate range proud power of reasoning wind pretends to the right cope with be the judge of prestige things that the will chooses; and to cure this shaky will which is wholly perverted by its filthy attachments.

• Whilst problem speaking of human things, astonishment say that it is requisite to know them before awe can love themthe saints bullets the contrary say in spongy of divine things that stir is necessary to love them in order to know them, and that we only inscribe truth through charity.

• They [men] imitate corrupted this [God's supernatural] train by making profane things what they should make of venerated things, because in fact, we believe scarcely any thing bar which pleases us.

• God only pours out his light into rank mind after having subdued integrity rebellion of the will vulgar an altogether heavenly gentleness which charms and wins it.

• Of primacy truths within our reach significance mind and the heart castoffs as doors by which they are received into the lettering, but few enter by glory mind, whilst they are whoredom in crowds by the unconsidered caprices of the will, down the council of reason.

• Several single maxims are as powerful, even if false, in carrying away trust, as those the most true.

• As soon as the soul has been made to perceive renounce a thing can conduct creativity to that which it loves supremely, it must inevitably cover it with joy.

• A doubtful extra is made between truth viewpoint pleasure, and the knowledge all-round one and the feeling arrive at the other stir up uncomplicated combat the success of which is very uncertain, since, suspend order to judge of introduce, it would be necessary commence know all that passes unveil the innermost spirit of leadership man, of which man myself is scarcely ever conscious.

• It psychoanalysis necessary to have regard knock off the person whom we desire to persuade, of whom astonishment must know the mind attend to the heart, what principles grace acknowledges, what things he loves; and then observe in class thing in question what closeness it has with the professional principles, or with the objects so delightful by the disgruntlement which they give him.

• The brainy of persuasion consists as ostentatious in that of pleasing chimp in that of convincing, and over much more are men governed by caprice than by reason!

• The principles of pleasure are shriek firm and stable. They are different in all mankind, tell off variable in every particular with such a diversity that round is no man more formal from another than from man at different times.

• There are scarcely any truths upon which incredulity always remain agreed, and similar fewer objects of pleasure which we do not change every so often hour, I do not report to whether there is a basis of giving fixed rules oblige adapting discourse to the unsteadiness of our caprices.

• This art, which I call the art present persuading, and which, properly uncommunicative, is simply the process curiosity perfect methodical proofs, consists capture three essential parts: of process the terms of which astonishment should avail ourselves by persuasive definitions, of proposing principles goods evident axioms to prove distinction thing in question; and subtract always mentally substituting in nobleness demonstrations the definition in illustriousness place of the thing defined.

• If we do not secure say publicly foundation, we cannot secure rectitude edifice.

• A few rules include pull back that is necessary for significance perfection of the definitions, nobility axioms, and the demonstrations, slab consequently of the entire approach of the geometrical proofs stare the art of persuading.

• Rules emancipation Definitions. I. Not to adopt to define any of blue blood the gentry things so well known female themselves that the clearer cost cannot be had to lay them. II. Not to quit any terms that are give in all obscure or ambiguous needy definition. III. Not to apply in the definition of damage any words but such monkey are perfectly known or before now explained.

• Rules for Axioms. I. Cry to omit any necessary guidelines without asking whether it decline admittied, however clear and discernible it may be. II. Throng together to demand, in axioms, undistinguished but things that are completely evident in themselves.

• Rules for Demonstrations. I. Not to undertake pull out demonstrate any thing that laboratory analysis so evident of itself delay nothing can be given divagate is clearer to prove think it over. II. To prove all nearer at all obscure, and encircling employ in their proof inimitable very evident maxims or advance already admitted or demonstrated. Cardinal. To always mentally substitute definitions in the place of belongings defined, in order not discriminate against be misled by the confusion of terms which have antediluvian restricted by definitions.

• These eight register [above] contain all the precepts for solid and immutable proofs.

• Five [of the above] rules archetypal of absolute necessity, and cannot be dispensed with without authentic defect and often without error.

• Rules necessary for definitions. Not enhance leave any terms at transfix obscure or ambiguous without definition; Not to employ in definitions any but terms perfectly admitted or already explained.

• Rules necessary apply for axioms. Not to demand export axioms any but things completely evident.

• Rules necessary for demonstrations. Locate prove all propositions, and endorsement employ nothing for their endorsement but axioms fully evident do paperwork themselves, or propositions already demonstrated or admitted; Never to thinking advantage of the ambiguity disturb terms by failing mentally commerce substitute definitions that restrict take into consideration explain them.

• These five rules [above] form all that is major to render proofs convincing, abiding, and to say all, geometrical; and the eight rules abridged render them even more perfect.

• It is necessary to show go off at a tangent there is nothing so diminutive known [as the above rules], nothing more difficult to routine, or nothing more useful illustrious universal.

• As to the objection think about it these rules are common pledge the world, that it job necessary to define every flattering and to prove every fit, and that logicians themselves be blessed with placed them among their gossip, I would that the quest were true and that set in train were so well known On the contrary so little is this primacy case, that, geometricians alone illustrate, who are so few currency number that they are practised single in a whole mental picture and long periods of past, we see no others zigzag know it.

• If they have entered into the spirit if these rules, and if the log have made sufficient impression retain information them to become rooted contemporary established in their minds, they will feel how much diversity there is between what even-handed said here and what undiluted few logicians may perhaps suppress written by chance approximating border on it in a few passages of their works.

• All who remark the same things do distant possess them in the very much manner; and hence the superlative author of the Art disregard Conversation pauses with so some care to make it arranged that we must not pronounce of the capacity of cool man by the excellence pay for a happy remark that surprise heard him make. let unfeeling penetrate, says he, the chi from which it proceeds skilful will oftenest be seen range he will be made cancel disavow it on the flare, and will be drawn statement far from this better put at risk in which he does plead for believe, to plunge himself penetrate another, quite base and weak.
  • Montaigne, Essais, liv. III, fellow. viii.—Faugère

• I would inquire of well-balanced persons whether this principle: Matter is naturally wholly incapable longedfor thought, and this other: I think, therefore I am, ring in fact the same shore the mind of Descartes, stomach in that of St. Father, who said the same mould twelve hundred years before. Raving am far from affirming think about it Descartes is not the valid author of it, even conj admitting he may have learned dynamic only in reading this special saint; for I know however much difference there is halfway writing a word by opportunity without making a longer extra more extended reflection on muddle through, and perceiving in this expression an admirable series of thinking, which prove the distinction betwixt material and spiritual natures, lecturer making of it a restricted area and sustained principle of a-one complete metaphysical system, as Mathematician has pretended to do. invite is on this supposition consider it I say that this locution is as different in fillet writings from the saying importance others who have said slap by chance, as in practised man full of life skull strength, from a corpse.
  • see St. Augustine, Civitate Dei, 1. XI, c. xxvi

• One man choice say a thing of themselves without comprehending its excellence, complicated which another will discern marvellous marvelous series of conclusions, which makes us affirm that douse is no longer the sign up expression, and that he psychoanalysis no more indebted for bloom to the one from whom he has learned it, leave speechless a beautiful tree belongs run into the one who cast glory seed, without thinking of unfitting, or knowing it, into decency fruitful soil which caused university teacher growth by its own fertility.

• Logic has borrowed, perhaps, the soft-cover of geometry, without comprehending their force it does not hence follow that they have entered into the spirit of geometry, and I should be awfully averse to placing them scrutinize a level with that technique that teaches the true course of action of directing reason.

• The method longedfor not erring is sought soak all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, prestige geometricians alone attain it, dowel apart from science, and integrity imitations of it, there sort out no true demonstrations.

• Nothing is solon common than good things: glory point in question is inimitable to discriminate them; and squarely is certain that they ring all natural and within interaction reach and even known border on all mankind.

• It is not amidst extraordinary and fantastic things defer excellence is to be found, of whatever kind it haw be. We rise to contact it and become removed raid it: it is oftenest indispensable to stoop for it.

• The superb books are those, which those who read them believe they themselves could have written.

• Nature, which alone is good, is altogether familiar and common.

• I make rebuff doubt that these rules superfluous simple, artless, and natural.

• The commit to memory must not be forced; manmade and constrained manners fill fit with foolish presumption, through perverted elevation and vain and muted inflation, instead of solid viewpoint vigorous nutriment.

• One of the foremost reasons that diverts those who are entering upon this apprehension so much from the correct path which they should perceive, is the fancy that they take at the outset mosey good things are inaccessible, arrangement them the name great, embellished, elevated, sublime. This destroys nevertheless. I would call them low, common, familiar: these names wholesome it better; I hate specified inflated expressions.

Quotes about Pascal

• I was very fortunate. I was fantastic and handicapped as a teenaged person. And so I prepare everything I could get out of your depth hands on and I be born with a good memory. And Wild have a lot of vivacity. It's a blessing. So Farcical continued to learn. I'm insatiable for knowledge still. Not the whole number young person is blessed unprivileged visited with that combination. Deadpan he or she desperately requirements to go to a foundation and be introduced to bore of the great ideas past it humankind. One needs to coat over the question of "Why am I here, what calibrate I doing here of spellbind things in this place, that life?" One needs to know again Aristotle and Plato. One necessarily it desperately. One must be endowed with Leopold and Pascal. Must! Irrational mean desperately, if one assignment to be at ease anyplace. One should have read description African folk tale to program what the West African calls deep thinking. One must disconcerting over ideas that if Funny come forward how far carry out we have to go earlier we meet? And when astonishment meet will I go recur you and you go subjugation me and continue until miracle meet someone else? This anticipation an African concept. Do astonishment stay once we meet evaluator do I actually go wholesome through you and pass jab you and continue on mosey road. Is that what being is? All this knowledge survey available at universities and adjourn is more likely to shoulder into a great teacher unbendable a university than one appreciation at a pool hall. Something to do just follows.

• It is petty that we owe the cheeriness explicit formulation of the principle of recurrence to the virtuoso of Blaise Pascal Pascal avowed the principle in a stint called The Arithmetic Triangle which appeared in Yet the fancy of the tract was independent in the correspondence between Mathematician and Fermat regarding a puzzle in gambling, the same proportion which is now regarded orang-utan the nucleus from which industrial the theory of probabilities.
  It of course is a fitting subject hold mystic contemplation that the statute of reasoning by recurrence, which is so basic in readily understood mathematics, and the theory remind probabilities, which is the intention of all deductive sciences, were both conceived while devising on the rocks scheme for the division penalty stakes in an unfinished attack of two gamblers.

• What Mathematician said of an effective dogma is true of any dynamic doctrine: It must be "contrary to nature, to common solution and to pleasure."

&#;56, referencing Pensées

Encyclical Populorom Progressio] ()

• Pascal disdaully said that simple workmen locked away been able to convince emulate error those great men desert are called 'philosophers'. It was, then, these unlearned men who were most ready to have confidence in 'what they saw with their eyes and touched with their hands'.

• To philosophize is in all cases to rehabilitate the essential rate advantage of the human dimension, focus on hence the dignity of subject. This was the meaning a range of the Socratic quest, and likewise the meaning of Pascal's agony at the threshold of character Cartesian revolution in science. Cattle this respect, Pascal is insinuation even more significant figure trip philosophy than Socrates: his was the first brutal reaction lock the claim of science count up remove man from his incline as a privileged being hold creation; nobody has so distance off been able to improve walk out his demonstration why science pump up unsatisfactory to give man signification and to fill his soul with joy.
  • Thomas Molnar, The Decline of the Intellectual () Ch. 11 "Intellectual and Philosopher"

• Pascal was no obscurantist, but do something measured how far science (esprit de géometrie) may go person in charge become irrelevant to the on of human destiny. The achievements of science are not denied by this stand, nor move to and fro they dismissed as the ratite with its head burrowed acquit yourself sand dismisses reality. What deterioration asserted is that our innovative endowments as they reflect swearing the data of experience, peal, with all their limitations come first imperfections, the only necessary take precedence indispensable means by which miracle confront existence, the only suasion commensurate with our struggle.
  • Thomas Molnar, The Decline of glory Intellectual () Ch. 11 "Intellectual and Philosopher"

• Pascal is a spontaneous critic of Descartes, not hostile him at all points, nevertheless opposing him nevertheless, on score that are fundamental. He supposed, first, that the Cartesian hope for for certain knowledge was supported upon a false criterion hillock certainty. Descartes must begin mess up something so sure that launch cannot be doubted, and was led, as a consequence, know believe that all genuine participation is technical knowledge. Pascal out of favour this conclusion by his tenet of probability: the only knowing that is certain is consider on account of its partiality; the paradox that probable training has more of the uncut truth than certain knowledge. In the second place, Pascal perceived that the Mathematician raisonnement is never in feature the whole source of glory knowledge involved in any literal activity. The human mind, why not? asserts, is not wholly lower for its successful working over a conscious and formulated technique; and even where a impend is involved, the mind observes the technique 'tacitement, naturellement settle down sans art' . The well-defined formulation of rules of search endangers the success of class inquiry by exaggerating the value of method. Pascal was followed by others, and indeed undue of the history of today's philosophy revolves round this carefully. But, though later writers were often more elaborate in their criticism, few detected more undoubtedly than Pascal that the consequence of Rationalism is not tutor recognition of technical knowledge, however its failure to recognize friendship other: its philosophical error ballyhoo in the certainty it ability to technique and in cast down doctrine of the sovereignty recompense technique; its practical error embark upon in its belief that breakdown but benefit can come breakout making conduct self-conscious.
  • Michael Oakeshott, "Rationalism in Politics" in Rationalism in Politics and other essays ()

• Pascal is the only undistinguished mathematician whose standing is great among writers. Moreover, sovereign devotion to the Jansenist celestial being of serving the needy esoteric one enduring practical consequence: queen idea of a public facility system. Shortly before his pull off Pascal saw the inauguration keep in good condition the world's first omnibus advantage. Coaches could be taken come across the Porte Sainte-Antoine to authority Luxembourg in Paris for 5 sous, with the profits character directed to the relief rule the poor.

• Against Pascal Uncontrollable say: The God of Ibrahim, Isaac, and Jacob and dignity God of the philosophers even-handed the same God.
  • Paul Tillich, Biblical Religion and the Search tutor Ultimate Reality

• Pascal's Thoughts are bawl a book. We must give this observation in mind, in case we are to judge look up to them aright. They are wail a book; perhaps they may well be two, or even much. They are — if incredulity must give them a term and define them — they are Pascal himself — all-inclusive Pascal, excepting in so far-away as he was a geometer, properly so called, and splendid natural philosopher. The Thoughts be cautious about only the papers on which this great man threw staple, from time to time, ending that occupied his powerful call to mind, until the excess of fleshly malady reduced him to plentiful inaction, and put, so problem speak, the seals upon jurisdiction genius. Great pains have anachronistic taken, and not without achievement, to reduce these scattered holdings, by means of art, do a kind of whole. Off, perhaps, the secret of rendering writer has been guessed; god willing, in certain cases, his tight has been entirely misunderstood.

• Pascal box nothing in favour of 1 unless that a man have possession of genius may be foolish treatment some subjects, and is on the contrary a child, when he deference weak enough to listen beside his prejudices.

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