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About this quote

What does it mean?
He observes that the most complete and cheerful evil often comes from religious conviction.
In plain terms
Religious zeal can produce wholehearted evil.
What can you take from it?
Beware of extremist ideologies that justify wrongdoing.

Where it applies

  • examining radical groups
  • studying moral psychology

Putting it to work

  • promoting critical thinking
  • encouraging interfaith dialogue

Questions to consider

  • Why does conviction amplify harmful actions?
  • How can societies mitigate extremist religious influence?

Another view

Not all religious believers act immorally; the statement is a broad generalization.

More from Blaise Pascal

  1. You must wager; it is not optional... Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God exists... If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothin…

    Permalink to quote #70
  2. If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing.

    Permalink to quote #72
  3. Wisdom leads us back to childhood.

    Permalink to quote #69

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