The contributions of this important character have transcended over time and it may be that the device where you are reading this article has been influenced by him. Blaise Pascal’s thoughts and phrases are based on his works in the natural sciences Above all, they are important in philosophy and in the field of theology.
Within Pascal’s contributions. We find the first digital calculator as well as contributions to probability theory. He left science to embrace Jansenism as a philosophy of life.
1. Can there be anything 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 one with him?
In this phrase, Blaise Pascal refers to war as one of the great evils of humanity.
2. The king is surrounded by people who only think about amusing him and preventing him from thinking about himself. Because, no matter how king he is, he is miserable if he thinks about it.
A way to show that a life of reflection often brings discomfort and a life of anguish.
3. The spirit naturally believes and the will naturally loves; so that, in the absence of true objects, it is necessary to cling to false ones.
About the attachment or relationship we establish with objects or situations that are sometimes 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 has wings. It’s what supports it.
Illusions keep us on the path, it is important to update and recreate them, a man with completely satisfied needs does not evolve.
6 When we read too fast or too slowly, we don’t understand anything
About the exact matter that all things need.
7. Our imagination enlarges the present time so much that we make eternity nothing, and nothingness eternity.
About the constant and intense use of imagination in all aspects.
8. We do not possess truth or good only in part and mixed with falsehood and evil
For Blaise Pascal there is no such thing as good and evil as a whole both polarities form the whole.
9. It is miserable to know that you are miserable, but it is great to recognize that you are miserable
Acknowledging weaknesses is important when it is done not only before ourselves but also before others.
10. No matter how much wealth a man possesses and no matter how great the health and comforts he enjoys, he does not feel satisfied if he does not have the esteem of others.
About the emotional needs of all people.
11. When you don’t love too much you don’t love enough
For Pascal, love is determined by intensity.
12. Eloquence is a painting of thought, and for this reason those who after having painted add something more, make a painting 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 between various religious expressions.
14. For those who only desire to see, there is enough light; But for those with the opposite disposition, there is always enough darkness
The conditions are in place for those who do everything possible to make that happen.
15. Who feels unhappy because he is not a king, but a dethroned king?
Phrase that brings us closer 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 an even greater evil to be full of them and not want to recognize it, because it is to add yet another evil of a voluntary illusion.
Recognizing defects opens up a possibility for personal development.
20. He who believes he is right among all things, does not know the reason for things.
We will never know everything about everything.
21. Why is custom not natural? I am very afraid that nature is nothing more than a first custom, just as custom is a second nature.
This phrase by Blais Pacal addresses the perspective that custom is a group of constructed situations that little by little become part of oneself.
22. Chess is the gym 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 path but it leads us to mediocrity.
24. What is man within nature? Nothing with respect to infinity. Everything with respect to nothing. A middle point between nothing and everything
A peculiar way of demonstrating man’s position within it.
25. It is better to know something about everything than to know everything about one thing
About the diversity of knowledge.
26. Those who possess the spirit of discernment know how much difference there can be between two similar words, depending on the places and circumstances that accompany them.
About 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 Blaise Pascal’s phrases about the fascination of reading and how it can affect us.
28. Little comforts us because little afflicts us
In this phrase Blasphemy Pascal tells us about the superficiality of our dilemmas.
29. It is easier to endure death without thinking about it than to endure the thought of death
About the anxiety that comes from thinking about death.
30. Conscience is the best moral book we have
About our own principles.
31. The queen of the world is force and not opinion; but it is opinion that uses force
The effect of an opinion has the power to influence a situation.
32. Reason is very weak if it does not understand that there are many things that surpass it.
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 commodity: the more you give, the more you have left
Happiness is shared, it is the only way to feel it fully.
35. Misfortune reveals lights to the soul that prosperity cannot perceive
Only in disgrace can we have the opportunity to shine for noble causes.
36. Always being willing to be happy, it is inevitable not to be happy at some point.
Grief makes us value happiness.
37. Nature has perfections to show that it is the image of God and imperfections to prove that it is only an image
About the complexity of nature.
38. Reason works slowly, and with so many aims, on so many principles, that at every moment it falls asleep or goes astray. Passion works in an instant
A reflection that is reminiscent of Daniel Kahneman’s theory.
39. I only know two types of reasonable people: those who love God with all their heart because they know him, and those who seek him with all their heart because they do not know him.
This phrase from Pascal talks about the honest and deep search for knowledge.
40. Neither contradiction is an indication of falsehood, nor is the lack of contradiction an indication of truth
About the middle points that show us an honest expression of thought.
41. What good is it for a man to gain the world if he loses his soul?
Not every win represents a triumph.
42. We never live, but we hope to live; and always willing to be happy, it is inevitable that we will never be happy
A reflection on expectations.
44. The art of persuading consists of both pleasing and convincing; since men are governed more by whim than by reason
On the effect of man on the senses.
45. There are only two kinds 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 your limitations.
47. By talking about love, one falls in love. Nothing so easy. Nothing so easy. This is the most natural passion of man
To experience something you have to get close to it.
48. Know that man infinitely surpasses man
About constant evolutions.
49. Why are you killing me? So 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 brave. Beautiful justice that has a river as its limit!
Another way to address the problems that conflict brings.
50. Two excesses: exclude reason, admit nothing but reason
All excesses harm us.
51. Man is full of needs; and he loves only those who can satisfy them all
Prioritizing what is most accessible.
52. Justice, strength. It is fair that the just be obeyed, it is necessary that the strongest be obeyed. Justice without force is impotent; force without justice is tyrannical; Justice without force finds opposition, because there are always evil people; force without justice is unwanted. It is necessary, therefore, to unite justice and strength, and thus ensure that what is just is strong, and that what is strong is just.
An appropriate way to handle both elements.
53. Justice over force is impotence, force without justice is tyranny
About the way to handle the force without the company of some value.
54. The last thing you know is where to start
It is difficult to find our north.
55. I have written this letter longer 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 diverse situations with property.
57. I would rather make a mistake believing in a god that does not exist, than make a mistake by not believing in a god that exists. Because if there is nothing afterwards, 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
Pascal’s phrase that speaks to us about the certainty of his religious faith
58. One of the main diseases of man is his restless curiosity to know what he cannot know.
About obsessions that do not bring us growth.
59. Curiosity is nothing more than vanity. In most cases, we just want to know something so we can talk about it.
About a banal attitude about knowledge.
60. The heart has reasons that reason does not understand
Many times these reasons have pure and honest motives. One of Blaise Pascal’s most remembered phrases
61. The egoist hates loneliness
Since he needs the company of someone to reaffirm his selfishness.
62. Love has no age; is always being born
Love is always updating itself from experiences.
63. All the good maxims have already been written. All you need to do is put them into practice.
This phrase from Pascal invites us to take action.
64. You are only truly happy when you dream of happiness
Live for a noble dream.
65. Painting blind love is an absurdity of poets; It is necessary to remove the blindfold and restore the joy of his eyes forever.
There is a love that makes us observe things with honesty and transparency
66. Man surpasses himself infinitely because he is always on the path towards infinite plenitude
About the process of constant growth.
67. Is haste the passion of fools?
The one that leads to incorrect decisions.
68. Being always willing to be happy, it is inevitable not to be happy at some point.
When we take the path towards some vital stage, we can reach it at any time.
I’m Emily Williams Jones, a psychologist specializing in mental health with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. With a Ph.D. in psychology, my career has spanned research, clinical practice and private counseling. I’m dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression and trauma by offering a personalized, evidence-based approach that combines the latest research with compassionate care.
