"The sensitivity of men to small matters, and their indifference to great ones, indicates a strange inversion"
- Blaise Pascal
About this Quote
This quote by Blaise Pascal speaks to the human propensity to concentrate on the small, unimportant matters in life, while often disregarding the bigger, more important concerns. This quote suggests that this habits is a strange inversion of what it ought to be. It suggests that human beings should be more conscious the great matters in life, such as morality, justice, and reality, and less sensitive to the little matters, such as unimportant differences and small inconveniences.
Pascal's quote is a pointer to concentrate on the big picture and to not get too caught up in the little details. It encourages us to focus on the concerns in life and to not let the little matters sidetrack us from what is genuinely important. It is a suggestion to remain concentrated on the greater great and to not let the small matters take precedence over the bigger, more meaningful ones.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"