Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
What can be seen on earth points to neither the total absence nor the obvious presence of divinity, but to the presence of a hidden God. Everything bears this mark.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that while divinity may not be overtly visible, its presence can be felt in the world around us.
Blaise Pascal's quote emphasizes the idea that the divine is not always immediately apparent in the natural world. Instead of concluding that there is either no God or that God is very evident, Pascal argues that there is a subtle, hidden presence of divinity evident in all things. This perspective invites contemplation about the nature of faith and the ways in which the divine can manifest in the everyday experiences of life.
Themes
DivinityHiddenFaithPresenceNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about spirituality, this quote could illustrate the idea that many people feel a divine presence in nature without necessarily seeing it outright.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes βIf we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural. If we offend the principles of reason our religion will be absurd and ridiculous . . . There are two equally dangerous extremes: to exclude reason, to admit nothing but reason.
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Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
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Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
Blaise PascalRead
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 PascalRead
What use is it to us to hear it said of a man that he has thrown off the yoke that he does not believe there is a God to watch over his actions, that he reckons himself the sole master of his behavior, and that he does not intend to give an account of it to anyone but himself?
Blaise PascalRead
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