Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.
Blaise PascalMan's true nature being lost, everything becomes his nature; as, his true good being lost, everything becomes his good.
Blaise PascalIt is your own assent to yourself, and the constant voice of your own reason, and not of others, that should make you believe.
Blaise PascalAll men naturally hate each other. We have used concupiscence as best we can to make it serve the common good, but this is mere sham and a false image of charity, for essentially it is just hate.
Blaise PascalVanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a soldier's servant, a cook, a porter brags and wishes to have his admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against vanity want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps this desire, and perhaps those who will read it.
Blaise Pascal