Descartes useless and unnecessary.
I see the terrifying spaces of the universe that enclose me, and I find myself attached to a corner of this vast expanse, without knowing why I am more in this place than in another, nor why this little time that is given me to live is assigned me at this point more than another out of all the eternity that has preceded me and out of all that will follow me.
Two faces are alike; neither is funny by itself, but side by side their likeness makes us laugh.
Eloquence. – We need both what is pleasing and what is real, but that which pleases must itself be drawn from the true.
A given man lives a life free from boredom by gambling a small sum every day. Give him every morning the money he might win that day, but on condition that he does not gamble, and you will make him unhappy.
There is some pleasure in being on board a ship battered by storms when one is certain of not perishing.
I do not know whether God exists, but I know that I have nothing to gain from being an atheist if he does not exist, whereas I have plenty to lose if he does. Hence, this justifies my belief in God.
God is enough for them.
Let us weigh up the gain and the loss involved in calling heads that God exists. Let us assess the two cases: if you win you win everything, if you lose you lose nothing. Do not hesitate then; wager that he does exist.
If we look at our work immediately after completing it, we are still too involved; if too long afterwards, we cannot pick up the thread again. It.
Certain authors, speaking of their works, say: “My book,” “My commentary,” “My history,” etc. They resemble middle-class people who have a house of their own and always have “My house” on their tongue.
Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them.
If man is not made for God, why is he only happy in God? If man is made for God, why is he so opposed to God?
So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours, and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more, and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists.
The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his every-day conduct.
Thought constitutes the greatness of man. Man is a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed.
The tone of voice influences the wisest of us and alters the force of a speech or a poem.
There is internal war in man between reason and the passions. If he had only reason without passions... If he had only passions without reason... But having both, he cannot be without strife, being unable to be at peace with the one without being at war with the other. Thus he is always divided against, and opposed to himself.
Make religion attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is. Worthy of reverence because it really understands human nature. Attractive because it promises true good.
There are three sources of belief: reason, custom, inspiration.