We must  know where to doubt, where to affirm and where to submit when necessary. Whoever does not do this does not understand the force of reason. There are some who fall short of these three principles, either by affirming that everything can be demonstrated, lacking all knowledge of the demonstration, or doubting everything, lacking the knowledge of where to submit, or by submitting to everything, lack the knowledge of where to discriminate.

pascal, pensée 201


and just like that, pascal wipes away the arguments of descartes and most of modern/postmodern mathematical theory. beautiful. 

I blame equally those who decide to praise man, those who blame him, and those who want to be diverted. I can only approve those who search in anguish.

pensée 24, blaise pascal

True nature having been lost, everything becomes natural. In the same way, the true good having been lost, everything becomes their true good.

pensée 16, blaise pascal


when every man does what is right in his own eyes. God gives every man what his heart desires. even if that heart is unrepentant. 

When we want to think of God, is there nothing which turns us aside, tempts us to think of other things? All that is bad, and it is born with us.

pensée 14, blaise pascal