Pascal, Blaise

"If all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world."

"It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory."

"Eloquence is a painting of the thoughts."

"Nature has perfections, in order to show that she is the image of God; and defects, to show that she is only his image."

"Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical."

"Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired : even I who write this, and you who read this."

"A trifle consoles us because a trifle distresses us." - Penseés

"I lay it down as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world." - Penseés

"I have made this letter longer than usual, only because I have not had the time to make it shorter." - Provincial Letters