Pensées — Blaise Pascal

Pensées

Blaise Pascal · الترخيص: Public domain · المصدر

• Justice is subject to dispute; might is easily recognised and is not disputed. So we cannot give might to justice, because might has gainsaid justice, and has declared that it is she herself who is just. And thus being unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just. SECTION V · ¶864
• The only universal rules are the laws of the country in ordinary affairs, and of the majority in others. Whence comes this? From the might which is in them. Hence it comes that kings, who have power of a different kind, do not follow the majority of their ministers. SECTION V · ¶866
• No doubt equality of goods is just; but, being unable to cause might to obey justice, men have made it just to obey might. Unable to strengthen justice, they have justified might; so that the just and the strong should unite, and there should be peace, which is the sovereign good. SECTION V · ¶867
• "When a strong man armed keepeth his goods, his goods are in peace."[119] SECTION V · ¶869
• Why do we follow the majority? It is because they have more reason? No, because they have more power. SECTION V · ¶871
• Why do we follow the ancient laws and opinions? Is it because they are more sound? No, but because they are unique, and remove from us the root of difference. SECTION V · ¶872
• Might is the sovereign of the world, and not opinion.--But opinion makes use of might.--It is might that makes opinion. Gentleness is beautiful in our opinion. Why? Because he who will dance on a rope will be alone,[120] and I will gather a stronger mob of people who will say that it is unbecoming. SECTION V · ¶876
• The cords which bind the respect of men to each other are in general cords of necessity; for there must be different degrees, all men wishing to rule, and not all being able to do so, but some being able. SECTION V · ¶878
• And this is the point where imagination begins to play its part. Till now power makes fact; now power is sustained by imagination in a certain party, in France in the nobility, in Switzerland in the burgesses, etc. SECTION V · ¶880
• These cords which bind the respect of men to such and such an individual are therefore the cords of imagination. SECTION V · ¶881
• The Swiss are offended by being called gentlemen, and prove themselves true plebeians in order to be thought worthy of great office. SECTION V · ¶883
• As duchies, kingships, and magistracies are real and necessary, because might rules all, they exist everywhere and always. But since only caprice makes such and such a one a ruler, the principle is not constant, but subject to variation, etc. SECTION V · ¶885
• The chancellor is grave, and clothed with ornaments, for his position is unreal. Not so the king, he has power, and has nothing to do with the imagination. Judges, physicians, etc. appeal only to the imagination. SECTION V · ¶887
• _Justice._--As custom determines what is agreeable, so also does it determine justice. SECTION V · ¶891
• _King and tyrant._--I, too, will keep my thoughts secret. SECTION V · ¶893
• I will take care on every journey. SECTION V · ¶894
• Greatness of establishment, respect for establishment. SECTION V · ¶895
• The pleasure of the great is the power to make people happy. SECTION V · ¶896
• The property of riches is to be given liberally. SECTION V · ¶897
• The property of each thing must be sought. The property of power is to protect. SECTION V · ¶898
• When force attacks humbug, when a private soldier takes the square cap off a first president, and throws it out of the window. SECTION V · ¶899
• The government founded on opinion and imagination reigns for some time, and this government is pleasant and voluntary; that founded on might lasts for ever. Thus opinion is the queen of the world, but might is its tyrant. SECTION V · ¶901
• Justice is what is established; and thus all our established laws will necessarily be regarded as just without examination, since they are established. SECTION V · ¶903
• _Sound opinions of the people._--Civil wars are the greatest of evils.[121] They are inevitable, if we wish to reward desert; for all will say they are deserving. The evil we have to fear from a fool who succeeds by right of birth, is neither so great nor so sure. SECTION V · ¶905
• God has created all for Himself. He has bestowed upon Himself the power of pain and pleasure. SECTION V · ¶907
• The most unreasonable things in the world become most reasonable, because of the unruliness of men. What is less reasonable than to choose the eldest son of a queen to rule a State? We do not choose as captain of a ship the passenger who is of the best family. SECTION V · ¶920
• Children are astonished to see their comrades respected. SECTION V · ¶923
• To be of noble birth is a great advantage. In eighteen years it places a man within the select circle, known and respected, as another would have merited in fifty years. It is a gain of thirty years without trouble. SECTION V · ¶925
• Let us, then, jeer no more at those who are honoured on account of rank and office; for we love a person only on account of borrowed qualities. SECTION V · ¶930
• The people have very sound opinions, for example: SECTION V · ¶932
• 1. In having preferred diversion and hunting to poetry. The half-learned laugh at it, and glory in being above the folly of the world; but the people are right for a reason which these do not fathom. SECTION V · ¶933
• 2. In having distinguished men by external marks, as birth or wealth. The world again exults in showing how unreasonable this is; but it is very reasonable. Savages laugh at an infant king.[123] SECTION V · ¶934
• 3. In being offended at a blow, on in desiring glory so much. But it is very desirable on account of the other essential goods which are joined to it; and a man who has received a blow, without resenting it, is overwhelmed with taunts and indignities. SECTION V · ¶935
• 4. In working for the uncertain; in sailing on the sea; in walking over a plank. SECTION V · ¶936
• _The reason of effects._--Continual alternation of pro and con. SECTION V · ¶945
• But we must now destroy this last proposition, and show that it remains always true that the people are foolish, though their opinions are sound; because they do not perceive the truth where it is, and, as they place it where it is not, their opinions are always very false and very unsound. SECTION V · ¶947
• _The reason of effects._--The weakness of man is the reason why so many things are considered fine, as to be good at playing the lute. It is only an evil because of our weakness. SECTION V · ¶949
• Tyranny consists in the desire of universal power beyond its scope. SECTION V · ¶955
• _Tyranny_--... So these expressions are false and tyrannical: "I am fair, therefore I must be feared. I am strong, therefore I must be loved. I am ..." SECTION V · ¶957
• Tyranny is the wish to have in one way what can only be had in another. We render different duties to different merits; the duty of love to the pleasant; the duty of fear to the strong; the duty of belief to the learned. SECTION V · ¶958

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