Blaise Pascal

There is nothing that we can see on earth which does not either show the wretchedness of man or the mercy of God. One either sees the powerlessness of man without God, or the strength of man with God.

All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.

In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.

There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition.

Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness.

The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be miserable. A tree does not know itself to be miserable. It is then being miserable to know oneself to be miserable; but it is also being great to know that one is miserable.

All these same miseries prove man's greatness. They are the miseries of a great lord, of a deposed king.