All men naturally hate one another; there could not be four friends in the world. (101)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People are naturally hostile to each other, making it impossible for four true friends to exist.
- In plain terms
- Humans naturally hate, so close friendships are rare.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize the difficulty of deep friendships.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is hatred truly natural or learned?
- What fosters genuine friendship?
Another view
Human history shows many lasting friendships despite conflict.
More from Blaise Pascal
A trifle consoles us because a trifle upsets us. (136)
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