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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He argues that believing in God has no downside, while not believing risks infinite loss if God exists.
- In plain terms
- Belief in God is safe; non‑belief risks everything if God exists.
- What can you take from it?
- Weigh potential infinite loss against negligible cost of belief.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does the potential loss justify belief without evidence?
- What are the social costs of religious belief?
Another view
The argument ignores the possible negative consequences of belief itself.
More from Blaise Pascal
Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.
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