Blaise Pascal

Dungeon.—I approve of not examining the opinion of Copernicus; but this...! It concerns all our life to know whether the soul be mortal or immortal.

We are fools to depend upon the society of our fellow-men. Wretched as we are, powerless as we are, they will not aid us; we shall die alone. We should therefore act as if we were alone, and in that case should we build fine houses, etc.? We should seek the truth without hesitation; and, if we refuse it, we show that we value the esteem of men more than the search for truth.

It is a horrible thing to feel all that we possess slipping away.

...it is not to be doubted that the duration of this life is but a moment; that the state of death is eternal, whatever may be its nature; and that thus all our actions and thoughts must take such different directions according to the state of that eternity, that it is impossible to take one step with sense and judgment, unless we regulate our course by the truth of that point which ought to be our ultimate end. ...thus, according to the principles of reason, the conduct of men is wholly unreasonable, if they do not take another course.

Art thou less a slave by being loved and favoured by thy master? Thou art indeed well off, slave. Thy master favours thee; he will soon beat thee.

Men lack heart; they would not make a friend of it.

That presumption should be joined to meanness is extreme injustice.

He who will know fully the vanity of man has only to consider the causes and effects of love.

...we cannot think of two things at the same time.

Curiosité n'est que vanité. Le plus souvent, on ne veut savoir que pour en parler.

Pride takes such natural possession of us in the midst of our woes, errors, etc. We even lose our life with joy, provided people talk of it.

Infinite movement, the point which fills everything, the moment of rest; infinite without quantity, indivisible and infinite.