Maxioms by Blaise Pascal
God wanted to redeem men and open the way of salvation to those who seek Him. But men make themselves read more
God wanted to redeem men and open the way of salvation to those who seek Him. But men make themselves so unworthy of it that it is only just that God should refuse to some because of the hardness of heart what He gives to others from a compassion that they do not deserve. If He had wanted to overcome the obstinacy of the most hardened, He could have done so by revealing Himself to them so obviously that they could not have doubted the truth of His Being -- just as He will appear at the last day with such a clap of thunder and such an upheaval of nature that the dead will revive and the blindest will see. It is not in this way, however, that He willed to appear at His gentle coming: because so many men had made themselves unworthy of His mercy, He willed to leave them deprived of the good which they did not desire. And so it would not have been fair for Him to have appeared in an obviously divine manner, absolutely capable of convincing all men. But also it would not have been fair for Him to appear in a manner so hidden that even those who were sincerely seeking Him should not be able to recognize Him... So He has tempered His knowledge, by giving marks of Himself which were visible to those who seek Him, and not to those who seek Him not.
The power of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doing
The power of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doing
Animals do not admire each other. A horse does not admire its companion.
Animals do not admire each other. A horse does not admire its companion.
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.
Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have a different effect.
Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have a different effect.
