Quotes from Blaise Pascal

Things are always at their best in their beginning.

We know the truth, not only by the reason, but by the heart.

Physical science will not console me for the ignorance of morality in the time of affliction.

When we see a natural style we are quite amazed and delighted, because we expected to see an author and find a man.

We shall die alone.

Imagination disposes of everything it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world.

Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am very much afraid that nature itself is only a first habit, just as habit is a second nature.

Self is hateful.

The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.

Vanity of science. Knowledge of physical science will not console me for ignorance of morality in time of affliction, but knowledge of morality will always console me for ignorance of physical science.

In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others whom it affects, and see the relations of all those things. And then we shall be very cautious.

The sensitivity of men to small matters, and their indifference to great ones, indicates a strange inversion.

It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason.

Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.

It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have everything one wants.

By a peculiar prerogative, not only each individual is making daily advances in the sciences, and may makes advances in morality, but all mankind together are making a continual progress in proportion as the universe grows older; so that the whole human race, during the course of so many ages, may be considered as one man, who never ceases to live and learn.

Do you wish people to believe good of you? Don't speak.

Fear not, provided you fear but if you fear not, then fear.

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

Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parceque je n'ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte.

Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is, but let us consider the two possibilities. If you gain, you gain all if you lose you lose nothing. Hesitate not, then, to wager that He is.

Let us weigh the gain and the loss, in wagering that God is. Consider these alternatives: if you win, you win all, if you lose you lose nothing. Do not hesitate, then, to wager that he is.

Man is only a reed, the weakest in nature; but he is a thinking reed. There is no need for the whole universe to take up arms to crush him: a vapor, a drop of water is enough to kill him. But even if the universe were to crush him, man would still be nobler than his slayer, because he knows that he is dying and the advantage the universe has over him. The universe knows nothing of this.

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