Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
Blaise PascalRead
Things have different qualities, and the soul different inclinations; for nothing is simple which is presented to the soul, and the soul never presents itself simply to any object. Hence it comes that we weep and laugh at the same thing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The soul's perception is complex and multifaceted, leading to mixed emotions towards the same object.
In this quote, Blaise Pascal suggests that the human soul is inherently complicated, influencing how we perceive and react to the world around us. Our emotional responses are seldom straightforward, as the same object can invoke both joy and sorrow simultaneously, reflecting the duality of human experience and the depth of our inner lives.
Themes
SoulEmotionsComplexityPerceptionHuman Experience
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the multifaceted nature of human emotions, this quote can illustrate the complexity of feelings.
More from Blaise Pascal
All quotes →If 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.
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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.
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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?
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