All these examples of wretchedness prove his greatness. It is the wretchedness of a great lord, the wretchedness of a dispossessed king. (425)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The suffering of great or dispossessed leaders shows his greatness.
- In plain terms
- A ruler’s misery highlights his stature.
- What can you take from it?
- Greatness can be evident in hardship.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines greatness?
- Can power be measured by suffering?
Another view
Suffering alone does not prove greatness.
More from Blaise Pascal
Tout notre raisonnement se reduit a ceder au sentiment. (274)
Permalink to quote #8 An advocate who has been well paid in advance will find the cause he is pleading all the more just. (82)
Permalink to quote #10 All men naturally hate one another; there could not be four friends in the world. (101)
Permalink to quote #7
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