Blaise Pascal Biography

Blaise Pascal, Philosopher
Occup.Philosopher
FromFrance
BornJune 19, 1623
Clermont-Ferrand, France
DiedAugust 19, 1662
Paris, France
CauseStomach Cancer
Aged39 years
Early Life and Education
Blaise Pascal was born upon June 19, 1623, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He was the 3rd of four children born to Étienne Pascal, a magistrate and amateur mathematician, and Antoinette Begon. Blaise's mother passed away when he was just three years of ages, and his father took over the obligation of raising the family. Acknowledging Blaise's prodigious intelligence, Étienne decided to educate him in your home, concentrating on languages and classical research studies. However, young Pascal revealed a strong disposition towards mathematics and science, fields in which he would quickly make significant contributions.

Mathematical and Scientific Contributions
Pascal's early fascination with geometry resulted in his creation of the Pascaline in 1642, among the world's very first mechanical calculators, developed to help his daddy with tax computations. He is perhaps best understood in mathematics for Pascal's Triangle, a triangular variety that highlights binomial coefficients, a necessary aspect in algebra and probability theory. In addition to these contributions, he laid fundamental operate in the study of fluids and pressure, establishing what ended up being called Pascal's Law. His research in the physical sciences helped lead the way for future studies in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics.

Engagement with Philosophy and Theology
In the 1650s, after an extensive spiritual experience, Pascal embraced a devout kind of Catholicism. Influenced significantly by Jansenism, an extensive interpretation of Catholic doctrine, he focused on the interaction in between factor and faith. His philosophical explorations culminated in the "Pensées", a collection of ideas intended as a defense of the Christian faith, where he notoriously developed Pascal's Wager. This argument posited that logical individuals should live as though God exists due to the fact that the possible gains far surpass the losses.

Significance in Literature and Early Modern Society
Pascal's prominent works were not limited to mathematics and approach. He made crucial contributions to literature also, specifically with "Les Provinciales", a series of letters important of the Jesuits for what he perceived as ethical laxity. These letters, composed under the pseudonym Louis de Montalte, combined convincing argumentation with biting wit to great result. The clarity and style of "Les Provinciales" have been applauded by literary scholars and show Pascal's expertise as a writer.

Influences and Colleagues
Throughout his life, Pascal interacted with some of the leading intellectuals of his time. Marin Mersenne, a friar and mathematician, and Pierre de Fermat, an attorney and fellow mathematician, were crucial figures in Pascal's scientific circle. Pascal kept a particularly efficient correspondence with Fermat, and their exchanges assisted to develop the field of probability theory.

Last Years and Legacy
In the final years of his life, Pascal experienced illness, experiencing persistent pain and different conditions. In spite of this, he continued to deal with his writings and clinical questions until his death on August 19, 1662, at the age of 39, in Paris. Pascal's contributions bridged the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, influencing areas as varied as existential philosophy, mathematics, and physical science. His combination of strenuous scientific thought with a deep doctrinal viewpoint continues to influence discussions in both fields, cementing his status as an essential figure in Western intellectual history.

Our collection contains 94 quotes who is written / told by Blaise, under the main topics: Happiness - Faith - Inspirational - Patriotism - Religion.

Related authors: Philo (Philosopher), Pierre de Fermat (Lawyer), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q: Blaise Pascal school
    A: Educated at home by his father, no formal school attendance.
  • Q: Blaise Pascal family
    A: Grew up with his father Étienne Pascal and sister Jacqueline Pascal.
  • Q: Blaise Pascal inventions in Computer
    A: Conceptual influence on computer science through the Pascal programming language.
  • Q: Blaise Pascal pronunciation
    A: Pronounced as 'Blaze Pass-kal'.
  • Q: Blaise Pascal contributions to mathematics
    A: Development of Pascal's Triangle and probability theory.
  • Q: What is Blaise Pascal famous for
    A: Famous for contributions to mathematics, physics, and philosophy.
  • Q: Blaise Pascal inventions
    A: Pascaline, a mechanical calculator.
  • Q: How old was Blaise Pascal?
    A: He became 39 years old
Blaise Pascal Famous Works:
Source / external links:

94 Famous quotes by Blaise Pascal

Small: If man made himself the first object of study, he would see how incapable he is of going further. How c
"If man made himself the first object of study, he would see how incapable he is of going further. How can a part know the whole?"
Small: Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is
"Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm"
Small: Law, without force, is impotent
"Law, without force, is impotent"
Small: There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but
"There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus"
Small: Concupiscence and force are the source of all our actions concupiscence causes voluntary actions, force
"Concupiscence and force are the source of all our actions; concupiscence causes voluntary actions, force involuntary ones"
Small: Through space the universe encompasses and swallows me up like an atom through thought I comprehend the
"Through space the universe encompasses and swallows me up like an atom; through thought I comprehend the world"
Small: All of our reasoning ends in surrender to feeling
"All of our reasoning ends in surrender to feeling"
Small: Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am ve
"Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am very much afraid that nature itself is only a first habit, just as habit is a second nature"
Small: You always admire what you really dont understand
"You always admire what you really don't understand"
Small: Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see it is above, not
"Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them"
Small: Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth
"Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth"
Small: When we are in love we seem to ourselves quite different from what we were before
"When we are in love we seem to ourselves quite different from what we were before"
Small: We never love a person, but only qualities
"We never love a person, but only qualities"
Small: All mens miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone
"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone"
Small: Earnestness is enthusiasm tempered by reason
"Earnestness is enthusiasm tempered by reason"
Small: Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth give him too much, the same
"Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth; give him too much, the same"
Small: Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere
"Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere"
Small: Men often take their imagination for their heart and they believe they are converted as soon as they th
"Men often take their imagination for their heart; and they believe they are converted as soon as they think of being converted"
Small: Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction"
Small: Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true
"Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true"
Small: Men blaspheme what they do not know
"Men blaspheme what they do not know"
Small: Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness
"Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness"
Small: Mans true nature being lost, everything becomes his nature as, his true good being lost, everything bec
"Man's true nature being lost, everything becomes his nature; as, his true good being lost, everything becomes his good"
Small: Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without des
"Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair"
Small: It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the hea
"It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason"
Small: It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory
"It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory"
Small: It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have everything one wants
"It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have everything one wants"
Small: It is natural for the mind to believe and for the will to love so that, for want of true objects, they
"It is natural for the mind to believe and for the will to love; so that, for want of true objects, they must attach themselves to false"
Small: It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist
"It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist"
Small: It is good to be tired and wearied by the futile search after the true good, that we may stretch out ou
"It is good to be tired and wearied by the futile search after the true good, that we may stretch out our arms to the Redeemer"
Small: In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who dont
"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't"
Small: In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others who
"In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others whom it affects, and see the relations of all those things. And then we shall be very cautious"
Small: Imagination disposes of everything it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in t
"Imagination disposes of everything; it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world"
Small: I can well conceive a man without hands, feet, head. But I cannot conceive man without thought he would
"I can well conceive a man without hands, feet, head. But I cannot conceive man without thought; he would be a stone or a brute"
Small: Human beings must be known to be loved but Divine beings must be loved to be known
"Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known"
Small: He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to Gods providence to lead hi
"He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him aright"
Small: Happiness is neither without us nor within us. It is in God, both without us and within us
"Happiness is neither without us nor within us. It is in God, both without us and within us"
Small: There are two kinds of people one can call reasonable: those who serve God with all their heart because
"There are two kinds of people one can call reasonable: those who serve God with all their heart because they know him, and those who seek him with all their heart because they do not know him"
Small: There are some who speak well and write badly. For the place and the audience warm them, and draw from
"There are some who speak well and write badly. For the place and the audience warm them, and draw from their minds more than they think of without that warmth"
Small: There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think the
"There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous"
Small: The weather and my mood have little connection. I have my foggy and my fine days within me my prosperit
"The weather and my mood have little connection. I have my foggy and my fine days within me; my prosperity or misfortune has little to do with the matter"
Small: The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason
"The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason"
Small: The immortality of the soul is a matter which is of so great consequence to us and which touches us so
"The immortality of the soul is a matter which is of so great consequence to us and which touches us so profoundly that we must have lost all feeling to be indifferent about it"
Small: The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing
"The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing"
Small: The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be wretched. A tree does not know itself to b
"The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be wretched. A tree does not know itself to be wretched"
Small: The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no differen
"The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men"
Small: The gospel to me is simply irresistible
"The gospel to me is simply irresistible"
Small: The finite is annihilated in the presence of the infinite, and becomes a pure nothing. So our spirit be
"The finite is annihilated in the presence of the infinite, and becomes a pure nothing. So our spirit before God, so our justice before divine justice"
Small: The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me"
Small: The consciousness of the falsity of present pleasures, and the ignorance of the vanity of absent pleasu
"The consciousness of the falsity of present pleasures, and the ignorance of the vanity of absent pleasures, cause inconstancy"
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