The collection / 232 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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01Undated

That unity which has not its origin in the multitude is tyranny.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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02Undated

The last thing that we discover in writing a book is to know what to put at the beginning.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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03Undated

The mind of the greatest man on earth is not so independent of circumstances as not to feel inconvenienced by the merest buzzing noise about him; it does not need the report of a cannon to disturb his thoughts. The creaking of a vane or a pulley is quite enough. Do not wonder that he reasons ill just now; a fly is buzzing by his ear; it is quite enough to unfit him for giving good counsel.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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04Undated

The multitude which does not reduce itself to unity is confusion; the unity which does not depend upon the multitude is tyranny.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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05Undated

The world is content with words; few think of searching into the nature of things.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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06Undated

There are fewer students of man than of geometry.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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07Undated

There are only three classes of people—those who have found God and serve him; those who have not found God and seek him; and those who live without either seeking or finding him—the first, rational and happy; the second, unhappy and rational; the third, foolish and unhappy.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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08Undated

There are three means of believing—by inspiration, by reason, and by custom. Christianity, which is the only rational institution, does yet admit none for its sons who do not believe by inspiration.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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09Undated

To find recreation in amusement is not happiness.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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10Undated

To think aright is the sum of human duty.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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11Undated

True morality scorns morality; that is, the morality of the judgment scorns the morality of the mind, which is without rules.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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12Undated

Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that the lowest drudge must boast and have his admirers; and the philosophers themselves desire the same.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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13Undated

We never live, but we hope to live; and as we are always arranging for being happy, it cannot be but that we never are so.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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14Undated

What a vanity is painting, which attracts admiration by the resemblance of things that in the original we do not admire!

Blaise Pascal / quote

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15Undated

When we meet with a natural style, we are surprised and delighted, for we expected to find an author, and we have found a man.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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16Undated

Where there is too much light, our senses don't perceive; they are only stunned or dazzled or blinded.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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17Undated

Wisdom sends us to childhood; "unless ye become as little children."

Blaise Pascal / quote

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18Undated

Would you have men think well of you, then do not speak well of yourself.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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19Undated

In a great soul everything is great.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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20Undated

Man does not wish to be told the truth.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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21Undated

Munificence is not quantity, but quality.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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22Undated

The I is worthy of aversion when it is principally confined to the person who uses it.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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23Undated

When we are too young our judgment is at fault; so also when we are too old.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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24Undated

When I consider the shortness of my life, lost in an eternity before and behind, “passing away as the remembrance of a guest who tarrieth but a day,” the little space I fill or behold in the infinite immensity of spaces, of which I know nothing and which know nothing of me—when I reflect this, I am filled with terror, and wonder why I am here and not there, for there was no reason why it should be the one rather than the other; why now rather than then. Who set me here? By whose command and rule were this time and place appointed me? How many kingdoms know nothing of us! The eternal silence of those infinite spaces terrifies me.

Blaise Pascal / quote

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