Pensées — Blaise Pascal

Pensées

Blaise Pascal · License: Public domain · Source

• _Against those who misuse passages of Scripture, and who pride themselves in finding one which seems to favour their error._--The chapter for Vespers, Passion Sunday, the prayer for the king. SECTION XIV · ¶2916
• Explanation of these words: "He that is not with me is against me."[369] And of these others: "He that is not against you is for you."[370] A person who says: "I am neither for nor against", we ought to reply to him ... SECTION XIV · ¶2917
• He who will give the meaning of Scripture, and does not take it from Scripture, is an enemy of Scripture. (Aug., _De Doct. Christ._) SECTION XIV · ¶2919
• _Humilibus dat gratiam; an ideo non dedit humilitatem?[371] SECTION XIV · ¶2921
• Sui eum non receperunt; quotquot autem non receperunt an non erant sui?_[372] SECTION XIV · ¶2922
• "It must indeed be," says Feuillant, "that this is not so certain; for controversy indicates uncertainty, (Saint Athanasius, Saint Chrysostom, morals, unbelievers)." SECTION XIV · ¶2924
• The Jesuits have not made the truth uncertain, but they have made their own ungodliness certain. SECTION XIV · ¶2925
• Contradiction has always been permitted, in order to blind the wicked; for all that offends truth or love is evil. This is the true principle. SECTION XIV · ¶2926
• They make a rule of exception. SECTION XIV · ¶2930
• Have the men of old given absolution before penance? Do this as exceptional. But of the exception you make a rule without exception, so that you do not even want the rule to be exceptional. SECTION XIV · ¶2931
• _On confessions and absolutions without signs of regret._ SECTION XIV · ¶2933
• The casuists submit the decision to the corrupt reason, and the choice of decisions to the corrupt will, in order that all that is corrupt in the nature of man may contribute to his conduct. SECTION XIV · ¶2938
• But is it _probable_ that _probability_ gives assurance? SECTION XIV · ¶2940
• Difference between rest and security of conscience. Nothing gives certainty but truth; nothing gives rest but the sincere search for truth. SECTION XIV · ¶2941
• The whole society itself of their casuists cannot give assurance to a conscience in error, and that is why it is important to choose good guides. SECTION XIV · ¶2943
• Thus they will be doubly culpable, both in having followed ways which they should not have followed, and in having listened to teachers to whom they should not have listened. SECTION XIV · ¶2944
• Can it be anything but compliance with the world which makes you find things probable? Will you make us believe that it is truth, and that if duelling were not the fashion, you would find it probable that they might fight, considering the matter in itself? SECTION XIV · ¶2946
• Must we kill to prevent there being any wicked? This is to make both parties wicked instead of one. _Vince in bono malum._[374] (Saint Augustine.) SECTION XIV · ¶2948
• _Universal._--Ethics and language are special, but universal sciences. SECTION XIV · ¶2950
• _Probability._--Each one can employ it; no one can take it away. SECTION XIV · ¶2952
• They allow lust to act, and check scruples; whereas they should do the contrary. SECTION XIV · ¶2954
• _Probability._--They have some true principles; but they misuse them. Now, the abuse of truth ought to be as much punished as the introduction of falsehood. SECTION XIV · ¶2958
• As if there were two hells, one for sins against love, the other for those against justice! SECTION XIV · ¶2959
• _Probability._[376]--The earnestness of the saints in seeking the truth was useless, if the probable is trustworthy. The fear of the saints who have always followed the surest way (Saint Theresa having always followed her confessor). SECTION XIV · ¶2961
• Take away _probability_, and you can no longer please the world; give _probability_, and you can no longer displease it. SECTION XIV · ¶2963
• If they do not renounce their doctrine of probability, their good maxims are as little holy as the bad, for they are founded on human authority; and thus, if they are more just, they will be more reasonable, but not more holy. They take after the wild stem on which they are grafted. SECTION XIV · ¶2967
• If what I say does not serve to enlighten you, it will be of use to the people. SECTION XIV · ¶2968
• If these[378] are silent, the stones will speak. SECTION XIV · ¶2969
• The Inquisition and the Society[379] are the two scourges of the truth. SECTION XIV · ¶2971
• Why do you not accuse them of Arianism? For, though they have said that Jesus Christ is God, perhaps they mean by it not the natural interpretation, but as it is said, _Dii estis_. SECTION XIV · ¶2972
• If my Letters are condemned at Rome, that which I condemn in them is condemned in heaven. _Ad tuum, Domine Jesu, tribunal appello._ SECTION XIV · ¶2973
• You yourselves are corruptible. SECTION XIV · ¶2974
• I feared that I had written ill, seeing myself condemned; but the example of so many pious writings makes me believe the contrary. It is no longer allowable to write well, so corrupt or ignorant is the Inquisition! SECTION XIV · ¶2975
• "It is better to obey God than men." SECTION XIV · ¶2976
• _Probability._--They have given a ridiculous explanation of certitude; for, after having established that all their ways are sure, they have no longer called that sure which leads to heaven without danger of not arriving there by it, but that which leads there without danger of going out of that road. SECTION XIV · ¶2978
• ... The saints indulge in subtleties in order to think themselves criminals, and impeach their better actions. And these indulge in subtleties in order to excuse the most wicked. SECTION XIV · ¶2980
• The heathen sages erected a structure equally fine outside, but upon a bad foundation; and the devil deceived men by this apparent resemblance based upon the most different foundation. SECTION XIV · ¶2981
• Man never had so good a cause as I; and others have never furnished so good a capture as you.... SECTION XIV · ¶2982
• The more they point out weakness in my person, the more they authorise my cause. SECTION XIV · ¶2983
• You say that I am a heretic. Is that lawful? And if you do not fear that men do justice, do you not fear that God does justice? SECTION XIV · ¶2984

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