“It is certain that those who have the living faith in their hearts see at once that all existence is none other than the work of the God whom they adore. But for those in whom this light is extinguished, [if we were to show them our proofs of the existence of God] nothing is more calculated to arouse their contempt. . . ”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“How can anyone lose who chooses to become a Christian? If, when he dies, there turns out to be no God and his faith was in vain, he has lost nothing…If, however, there is a God and a heaven and a hell. Then he has gained heaven and his skeptical friends have lost everything…”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“One of the greatest artifices the devil uses to engage men in vice and debauchery, is to fasten names of contempt on certain virtues, and thus fill weak souls with a foolish fear of passing for scrupulous, should they desire to put them in practice.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“Jesus was in a garden, not of delight as the first Adam, in which he destroyed himself and the whole human race, but in one of agony, in which he saved himself and the whole human race.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“There is a virtuous fear, which is the effect of faith; and there is a vicious fear, which is the product of doubt. The former leads to hope, as relying on God, in whom we believe; the latter inclines to despair, as not relying on God, in whom we do not believe. Persons of the one character fear to lose God; persons of the other character fear to find Him.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“St. Augustine teaches us that there is in each man a Serpent, an Eve, and an Adam. Our senses and natural propensities are the Serpent; the excitable desire is the Eve; and reason is the Adam. Our nature tempts us perpetually; criminal desire is often excited; but sin is not completed till reason consents.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“I rather live as if God exists to find out that He doesn’t than live as if he doesn’t exist to find out He does.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“Happiness is neither within us only, or without us; it is the union of ourselves with God.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“There are only three types of people; those who have found God and serve him; those who have not found God and seek him, and those who live not seeking, or finding him. The first are rational and happy; the second unhappy and rational, and the third foolish and unhappy.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)
“If we let ourselves believe that man began with divine grace, that he forfeited this by sin, and that he can be redeemed only by divine grace through the crucified Christ, then we shall find peace of mind never granted to philosophers. He who cannot believe is cursed, for he reveals by his unbelief that God has not chosen to give him grace.”
Blaise Pascal (Physicist, Philosopher 1623 – 1662)