Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

96 Enlightening Quotes By Blaise Pascal That Will Help You In Life

Famous As: One of the Greatest Mathematicians of All Time Who Invented the Mechanical Calculator
Born On: June 19, 1623
Died On: August 19, 1662
Born In: Clermont-Ferrand, France
Died At Age: 39

Blaise Pascal was a renowned French scientist who made tremendous contributions to the field of mathematics and physics. He was mostly home-schooled by his father and published his first mathematical work at the early age of sixteen. His talent was recognized early on by his father and when he sent his essay on conics to eminent French theologist and mathematician Père Mersenne, many including Rene Descartes believed the theorem was propounded by Pascal's father. However, later the theorem was named after this mathematical genius as Pascal Theorem. Not only in the fields of probability and geometry but Pascal is also credited for inventing one of the foremost calculating device. Apparently he built the calculator to help his father in computing taxes. The probability theory put forth by Pascal laid the foundations of modern day economics. He also developed the Pascal triangle to represent binomial coefficients in a tabular form. The erudite mind was also responsible for deriving the proof of existence of vacuum.

Here are a few enligtening quotes by the famous scientist Blaise Pascal.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.

Blaise Pascal
All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.

All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.

Blaise Pascal
I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter.

I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter." (Letter 16, 1657)

Blaise Pascal
Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.

Blaise Pascal
I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.

I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.

Blaise Pascal
I made this [letter] very long, because I did not have the leisure to make it shorter.

I made this [letter] very long, because I did not have the leisure to make it shorter.

Blaise Pascal
To make light of philosophy is to be a true philosopher.

To make light of philosophy is to be a true philosopher.

Blaise Pascal
Kind words don't cost much. Yet they accomplish much.

Kind words don't cost much. Yet they accomplish much.

Blaise Pascal
You always admire what you really don't understand.

You always admire what you really don't understand.

Blaise Pascal
People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.

People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.

Blaise Pascal
I lay it down as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.

I lay it down as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.

Blaise Pascal
Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.

Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.

Blaise Pascal
Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.

Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.

Blaise Pascal
Few friendships would survive if each one knew what his friend says of him behind his back

Few friendships would survive if each one knew what his friend says of him behind his back

Blaise Pascal
When one does not love too much, one does not love enough.

When one does not love too much, one does not love enough.

Blaise Pascal
Dull minds are never either intuitive or mathematical.

Dull minds are never either intuitive or mathematical.

Blaise Pascal
To ridicule philosophy is really to philosophize.

To ridicule philosophy is really to philosophize.

Blaise Pascal
The last thing one discovers in composing a work is what to put first.

The last thing one discovers in composing a work is what to put first.

Blaise Pascal
Man's sensitivity to the little things and insensitivity to the greatest are the signs of a strange disorder.

Man's sensitivity to the little things and insensitivity to the greatest are the signs of a strange disorder.

Blaise Pascal
The last function of reason is to recognize that there are an infinity of things which surpass it.

The last function of reason is to recognize that there are an infinity of things which surpass it.

Blaise Pascal
It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the truth.

It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the truth.

Blaise Pascal
We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others.

We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others.

Blaise Pascal
Few men speak humbly of humility, chastely of chastity, skeptically of skepticism.

Few men speak humbly of humility, chastely of chastity, skeptically of skepticism.

Blaise Pascal
Do you wish people to think well of you? Don't speak well of yourself.

Do you wish people to think well of you? Don't speak well of yourself.

Blaise Pascal
Little things comfort us because little things distress us.

Little things comfort us because little things distress us.

Blaise Pascal
The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

Blaise Pascal
Man is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness from which he emerges and the infinity in which he is engulfed.

Man is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness from which he emerges and the infinity in which he is engulfed.

Blaise Pascal
Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.

Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.

Blaise Pascal
The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart." - Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal
Can anything be stupider than that a man has the right to kill me because he lives on the other side of a river and his ruler has a quarrel with mine, though I have not quarrelled with him?

Can anything be stupider than that a man has the right to kill me because he lives on the other side of a river and his ruler has a quarrel with mine, though I have not quarrelled with him?

Blaise Pascal
Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen.

Blaise Pascal
People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others.

People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others.

Blaise Pascal
To understand is to forgive.

To understand is to forgive.

Blaise Pascal
Nature has made all her truths independent of one another. Our art makes one dependent on the other.

Nature has made all her truths independent of one another. Our art makes one dependent on the other.

Blaise Pascal
The more I see of Mankind, the more I prefer my dog.

The more I see of Mankind, the more I prefer my dog.

Blaise Pascal
Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.

Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.

Blaise Pascal
Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.

Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.

Blaise Pascal
There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.

There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.

Blaise Pascal
Symmetry is what we see at a glance; based on the fact that there is no reason for any difference...

Symmetry is what we see at a glance; based on the fact that there is no reason for any difference...

Blaise Pascal
And is it not obvious that, just as it is a crime to disturb the peace when truth reigns, it is also a crime to remain at peace when the truth is being destroyed?

And is it not obvious that, just as it is a crime to disturb the peace when truth reigns, it is also a crime to remain at peace when the truth is being destroyed?

Blaise Pascal
Lust is the source of all our actions, and humanity.

Lust is the source of all our actions, and humanity.

Blaise Pascal
In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.

In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.

Blaise Pascal
Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for miseries and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.

Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for miseries and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.

Blaise Pascal
Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

Blaise Pascal
Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them.

Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them.

Blaise Pascal
By space the universe encompasses me and swallows me up like an atom; by thought I comprehend the world.

By space the universe encompasses me and swallows me up like an atom; by thought I comprehend the world.

Blaise Pascal
Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything.

Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything.

Blaise Pascal
Our nature lies in movement; complete calm is death.

Our nature lies in movement; complete calm is death.

Blaise Pascal
Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it.

Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it.

Blaise Pascal
Nature is an infinite sphere whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.

Nature is an infinite sphere whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.

Blaise Pascal
Since we cannot know all there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.

Since we cannot know all there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.

Blaise Pascal
The heart has reasons that reason cannot know.

The heart has reasons that reason cannot know.

Blaise Pascal
We must keep our thought secret, and judge everything by it, while talking like the people.

We must keep our thought secret, and judge everything by it, while talking like the people.

Blaise Pascal
Men seek rest in a struggle against difficulties; and when they have conquered these, rest becomes insufferable.

Men seek rest in a struggle against difficulties; and when they have conquered these, rest becomes insufferable.

Blaise Pascal
There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition

There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition

Blaise Pascal
There is a certain standard of grace and beauty which consists in a certain relation between our nature... and the thing which pleases us.

There is a certain standard of grace and beauty which consists in a certain relation between our nature... and the thing which pleases us.

Blaise Pascal
Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care.

Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care.

Blaise Pascal
The eternal silence of these infinite spaces terrifies me

The eternal silence of these infinite spaces terrifies me

Blaise Pascal
God instituted prayer to communicate to creatures the dignity of causality.

God instituted prayer to communicate to creatures the dignity of causality.

Blaise Pascal
The last act is bloody, however fine the rest of the play

The last act is bloody, however fine the rest of the play

Blaise Pascal
Passion cannot be beautiful without excess; one either loves too much or not enough.

Passion cannot be beautiful without excess; one either loves too much or not enough.

Blaise Pascal
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.

In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.

Blaise Pascal
Words differently arranged have different meanings, and meanings differently arranged have different effects.

Words differently arranged have different meanings, and meanings differently arranged have different effects.

Blaise Pascal
Man's sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things are marks of a strange disorder.

Man's sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things are marks of a strange disorder.

Blaise Pascal
Man's grandeur is that he knows himself to be miserable.

Man's grandeur is that he knows himself to be miserable.

Blaise Pascal
Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much

Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much

Blaise Pascal
No religion except ours has taught that man is born in sin; none of the philosophical sects has admitted it; none therefore has spoken the truth

No religion except ours has taught that man is born in sin; none of the philosophical sects has admitted it; none therefore has spoken the truth

Blaise Pascal
The power of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doing.

The power of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doing.

Blaise Pascal
The weather and my mood have little connection. I have my foggy and my fine days within me; my prosperity or misfortune has little to do with the matter.

The weather and my mood have little connection. I have my foggy and my fine days within me; my prosperity or misfortune has little to do with the matter.

Blaise Pascal
He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him aright

He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him aright

Blaise Pascal
We run carelessly over the precipice after having put something in front of us to prevent us seeing it.

We run carelessly over the precipice after having put something in front of us to prevent us seeing it.

Blaise Pascal
When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.

When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.

Blaise Pascal
If you gain, you gain all. If you lose, you lose nothing. Wager then, without hesitation, that He exsists.

If you gain, you gain all. If you lose, you lose nothing. Wager then, without hesitation, that He exsists.

Blaise Pascal
Please forgive the long letter; I didn’t have time to write a short one.

Please forgive the long letter; I didn’t have time to write a short one.

Blaise Pascal
A trifle consoles us, for a trifle distresses us.

A trifle consoles us, for a trifle distresses us.

Blaise Pascal
The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of.

Blaise Pascal
We know the truth, not only be the reason, but also be the heart.

We know the truth, not only be the reason, but also be the heart.

Blaise Pascal
We make an idol of truth itself, for truth apart from charity is not God, but his image and an idol that we must not love or worship.

We make an idol of truth itself, for truth apart from charity is not God, but his image and an idol that we must not love or worship.

Blaise Pascal
Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions.

Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions.

Blaise Pascal
Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and the scholars. I will not forget thy word. Amen.

Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and the scholars. I will not forget thy word. Amen.

Blaise Pascal
Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.

Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.

Blaise Pascal
Everything that is written merely to please the author is worthless.

Everything that is written merely to please the author is worthless.

Blaise Pascal
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.

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 Pascal
Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.

Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.

Blaise Pascal
All human evil comes from a single cause, man’s inability to sit still in a room.

All human evil comes from a single cause, man’s inability to sit still in a room.

Blaise Pascal
Eloquence is a painting of the thoughts.

Eloquence is a painting of the thoughts.

Blaise Pascal
To make a man a saint, it must indeed be by grace; and whoever doubts this does not know what a saint is, or a man.

To make a man a saint, it must indeed be by grace; and whoever doubts this does not know what a saint is, or a man.

Blaise Pascal
They do not know that they seek only
the chase and not the quarry.

They do not know that they seek only the chase and not the quarry.

Blaise Pascal
Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is.

Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is.

Blaise Pascal
Jesus is a God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.

Jesus is a God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.

Blaise Pascal
We desire truth and find within ourselves only uncertainty.

We desire truth and find within ourselves only uncertainty.

Blaise Pascal
It is better to know something about everything then everything about something

It is better to know something about everything then everything about something

Blaise Pascal
Imagination magnifies small objects with fantastic exaggeration until they fill our soul, and with bold insolence cuts down great things to its own size, as when speaking of God.

Imagination magnifies small objects with fantastic exaggeration until they fill our soul, and with bold insolence cuts down great things to its own size, as when speaking of God.

Blaise Pascal
Each man is everything to himself, for with his death everything is dead for him. That is why each of us thinks he is everything to everyone. We must not judge nature by ourselves, but by its own standards.

Each man is everything to himself, for with his death everything is dead for him. That is why each of us thinks he is everything to everyone. We must not judge nature by ourselves, but by its own standards.

Blaise Pascal
At the far end of this infinite distance a coin is being spun which will come down heads or tails. How will you wager? Reason cannot make you choose either, reason cannot prove either wrong.

At the far end of this infinite distance a coin is being spun which will come down heads or tails. How will you wager? Reason cannot make you choose either, reason cannot prove either wrong.

Blaise Pascal
God wishes to move the will rather than the mind. Perfect clarity would help the mind and harm the will.

God wishes to move the will rather than the mind. Perfect clarity would help the mind and harm the will.

Blaise Pascal