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68 phrases by Blaise Pascal to understand life

68 phrases by Blaise Pascal to understand life

March 12, 2024

The contributions of this important character have transcended over time and may from the device where you are reading this article has been influenced by him. The thought and phrases of Blaise Pascal are based on his work in the natural sciences . Above all, they are important in philosophy and in the field of theology.

Within the contributions of Pascal. we found the first digital calculator as well as contributions to the theory of probability. He left science to embrace Jansenism as a philosophy of life.

  • Maybe you're interested: "123 wise phrases to reflect on life"

The most representative phrases of Blaise Pascal's thoughts

Next we will see the phrases of Blaise Pascal that bring us closer to his way of understanding reality.


1. Can there be something more ridiculous than the claim that a man has the right to kill me because he lives on the other side of the water and his prince has a quarrel with mine even though I do not have it with him?

In this sentence, Blaise Pascal refers to war as one of the great evils of humanity.

2. The king is surrounded by people who do not think except to entertain him and prevent him from thinking of himself. Because, no matter how king he may be, he is unfortunate if he thinks about it.

A way of showing that the life of reflection, many times, brings distress and a life with anguish.

3. The spirit believes naturally and the will naturally loves; so that, in the absence of true objects, it is necessary to stick to false ones.

About the attachment or relationship that we engage with objects or situations that sometimes are not what we need.


4. Description of man: dependence, desire for independence, need.

For Pascal, man in essence is a complex and contradictory being .

5. Man has illusions like the bird wings. It's what supports it.

The illusions keep us on the road, it is important to update and recreate them, a man with totally satisfied needs does not evolve.

6 When we read too fast or too slowly, we do not understand anything

On the exact subject that all things need.

7. Our imagination enlarges us so much the present time, that we make eternity a nothingness, and out of nothing an eternity

About the constant and intense use of imagination in all aspects.

8. We do not possess the truth or the good nothing more than in part and mixed with falsehood and evil

For Blaise Pascal there is no good and evil as a whole , both polarities form the whole.


  • Related article: "The 6 differences between ethics and morals"

9. It is miserable to be miserable, but it is to be great to recognize that one is miserable

Recognizing weaknesses is important when it is done not only to ourselves but also to others.

10. For many riches that man possesses and however great the health and comforts that he enjoys, he does not feel satisfied if he does not count on the esteem of others

About the affective needs of all people.

11. When you do not love yourself too much you do not love yourself enough

For Pascal, love is determined by intensity.

12. Eloquence is a painting of thought, and that is why those who, after having painted, add something else, make a picture instead of a portrait.

About the talent of eloquent people who create diverse scenarios.

13. In religions it is necessary to be sincere; true pagans, true Jews, true Christians

About the importance of tolerance and coexistence among diverse religious expressions.

14. For those who do not crave but see, there is enough light; more for those who have opposite disposition, there is always enough darkness

The conditions are given to those who do everything possible that happens.

15. Who is unhappy about not being king, but a dethroned king?

Phrase that brings us to the disappointment of failure.

16. Morality is the science par excellence; it is the art of living well and being happy

The importance of morality for Pascal.

17. Any religion that does not affirm that God is hidden is not true

According to this phrase, the basis of religion will always be faith .

18. Man is naturally credulous, unbelieving; shy, reckless

Pascal was very recidivist in believing in the polarities of the human being.

19. It is undoubtedly an evil, to be full of defects; but it is still a greater evil to be full of them and not to want to recognize it, because it is still to add that of a voluntary illusion

Recognizing the defects opens up a possibility for personal development.

20. He who believes to be right among all things, the reason of things unknown

We will never know everything about everything.

21. Why is not the custom natural? I am afraid that nature is only a first habit, as the habit is second nature

This phrase by Blais Pacal addresses the perspective that custom is a group of built-up situations that little by little become part of oneself.

22. Chess is the gymnasium of the mind

Related to the processes that this entails.

23. Man is always willing to deny everything he does not understand

It is an easier way but that leads us to mediocrity.

24. What is man within nature? Nothing with regard to infinity. Everything with respect to nothing. A middle point between nothing and everything

A peculiar way of demonstrating the position of man within her.

25. It is better to know something about everything, than to know everything about a single thing

About the diversity of knowledge.

  • Related article: "The 9 types of knowledge: what are they?"

26. Those who possess the spirit of discernment know how much difference can be made between two similar words, according to the places and circumstances that accompany them.

About the reflection depending on the situation or context.

27. The best books are those that those who read them believe that they too could have written them

One of the phrases of Blaise Pascal about the fascination of reading and how this can affect us.

28. Little consoles us because little things afflict us

In this sentence Blasphemy Pascal speaks to us about the superficiality of our dilemmas.

29. It is easier to bear death without thinking about it than to endure the thought of death

On the anxiety that comes from thinking about death.

30. Conscience is the best moral book we have

About our own principles.

  • Maybe you're interested: "The 10 types of values: principles that govern our lives"

31. The queen of the world is strength and not opinion; but it is opinion that uses force

The effect of an opinion has the power to inflict on some situation.

32. Very weak is the reason if you do not understand that there are many things that exceed it

To accept the limitations of the rational It is necessary for it to work well.

33. Our nature is in motion. Absolute rest is death

The movement that allows growth.

34. Happiness is a wonderful article: the more you give, the more you have left

Happiness is shared, it is the only way to feel it fully.

35. Misfortune discovers to the soul lights that prosperity fails to perceive

Only in disgrace can we have the opportunity to shine for noble causes.

36. Being always willing to be happy, it is inevitable not to be ever

Grief makes us value happiness.

37. Nature has perfections to prove that it is God's image and imperfections to prove that it is only an image

About the complexity of nature.

38. Reason works slowly, and with so many views, on so many principles, that at every moment it is numbed or lost. Passion works in an instant

A reflection that recalls the theory of Daniel Kahneman.

39. I only know two types of reasonable people: those who love God with all their hearts because they know him, and those who seek him with all their hearts because they do not know him

This phrase of Pascal speaks about the honest and deep search of knowledge.

40. Neither the contradiction is a sign of falsehood, nor the lack of contradiction is a sign of truth

On the midpoints that show us an honest expression of thought.

41. What is the use of a man to gain the world if he loses his soul?

Not all profits represent a triumph.

42. We never live, but we expect to live; and always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable that we will never be

A reflection on expectations.

44. The art of persuading consists both in pleasing and in convincing; since men are governed more by caprice than by reason

On the effect of man on the senses.

45. There are only two classes of coherent people: those who enjoy God because they believe in him and those who suffer because they do not possess him.

In both positions the existence of God is accepted.

46. ​​The greatness of a man lies in knowing how to recognize his own smallness

About recognizing their limitations.

47. By dint of talking about love, one gets to fall in love. Nothing so easy. Nothing so easy. This is the most natural passion of man

To experience something you have to approach it.

48. Know that man infinitely surpasses man

About constant evolutions.

49. Why do you kill me? And what, you're not on the other side of the water? My friend, if you were on this side it would be unfair to kill you and I would be a murderer. But, since you are on the other side, this is fair and I am a brave man. Beautiful justice that has a river on its limit!

Another way to deal with the problems that conflict brings.

50. Two excesses: exclude the reason, not admit more than the reason

All excesses harm us.

51. Man is full of needs; and he loves only those who can satisfy them all

Prioritizing what is more accessible.

52. Justice, strength. It is just that the just is obeyed, it is necessary that the strongest is obeyed.Justice without force is impotent; force without justice is tyrannical; justice without strength finds opposition, because there are always evil ones; Force without justice is unwanted. There is, then, that unite justice and strength, and get so that the just is strong, and that the strong is fair

An appropriate way to handle both elements.

53. Justice over force, is impotence, strength without justice is tyranny

About the way to handle force without the company of any value.

54. The last thing you know, is where to start

It is difficult to find our north.

55. I have written this letter more extensive than usual because I do not have time to write it shorter

About the contradictory meanings of time.

56. He who doubts and does not investigate, becomes not only unhappy, but also unjust

Finding knowledge gives us a position in the face of diversity, situations with property.

57. I prefer to be mistaken by believing in a god that does not exist, than by mistaking myself for not believing in a god that exists. Because if afterwards there is nothing, obviously I will never know, when I sink into eternal nothingness; but if there is something, if there is someone, I will have to account for my attitude of rejection

Phrase of Pascal that speaks to us about the certainty of their religious faith .

  • Related article: "Types of religion (and their differences of beliefs and ideas)"

58. One of the main diseases of man is his restless curiosity to know what he can not get to know

About obsessions that do not give us growth.

59. Curiosity is nothing but vanity. In most cases, we just want to know something to talk about it

About a banal attitude about knowledge.

60. The heart has reasons that reason does not understand

Many times those reasons have pure and honest reasons. One of the most remembered sentences of Blaise Pascal .

61. The selfish hates loneliness

Since he needs someone's company to reaffirm his selfishness.

62. Love has no age; it is always being born

Love is always being updated from experiences.

63. All the good maxims have already been written. All that remains is to implement them

This sentence from Pascal invites us to take action.

64. Only you are truly happy when you dream of happiness

Live for a noble dream.

65. Painting blind love is an unreason of poets; it is necessary to remove the bandage and return forever the joy of his eyes

There is a love that makes us observe things honestly and transparently .

66. Man surpasses himself infinitely because he is always on his way to infinite fullness

On the process of constant growth.

67. Is hurry the passion of fools?

That which leads to incorrect decisions.

68. Being always willing to be happy, it is inevitable not to be ever

When we take the path to some vital stage, we can reach it at any time.


The mathematical secrets of Pascal’s triangle - Wajdi Mohamed Ratemi (March 2024).


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