"Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed. The entire universe need not arm itself to crush him. A vapor, a drop of water suffices to kill him. But, if the universe were to crush him, man would still be more noble than that which killed him, because he knows that he dies and the advantage which the universe has over him; the universe knows nothing of this.All our dignity consists then in thought. By it we must elevate ourselves, and not by space and time which we cannot fill. Let us endeavor to think well; this is the principle of morality."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Blaise Pascal, Pensées, #347, W. F. Trotter, trans. (New York: 1958)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Principles
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Principles
18 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Principles →
Related Quotes
"Plato said that virtue has no master [Republic 617e]. If a person does not honor this principle and rejoice in it, bu…"
"A very important principle in investing is that you don't have to make it back the way you lost it. And, in fact, it'…"
"Principle is ever my motto, no expediency."
"Precedents are not mere dusty phrases, which do not substantially affect the question before us. A precedent embalms …"
"Change based on principle is progress. Constant change without principle becomes chaos."
"Unless you perfectly understand the principle from which anyone acts, how should you know if he acts ill?"
"If the ruling class thinks that by hanging us, hanging a few anarchists, they can crush out anarchy, they will be bad…"
"The man of action is always unprincipled; none but the contemplative has a conscience."
"Treat the negro as a citizen and a voter, as he is and must remain, and soon parties will be divided, not on the colo…"
"When an active individual of sound common sense perceives the sordid state of the world, desire to change it becomes …"