7 Blaise Pascal Quotes on Cognition

Blaise Pascal quotes on cognition

1. People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.

19. For knowledge of the first principles, like space, time, motion, number, is as solid as any derived through reason, and it is on such knowledge, coming from the heart and instinct, that reason has to depend and base all its arguments. (282)

23. I cannot imagine a man without thought; he would be a stone or an animal. (339)

26. If we look at our work immediately after completing it, we are still too involved; if too long afterwards, we cannot pick up the thread again. (381)

39. Nothing is so conformable to reason as to disavow reason. (272)

51. The two principles of truth, reason and senses, are not only both not genuine, but are engaged in mutual deception. The senses deceive reason through false appearances, and the senses are disturbed by passions, which produce false impressions.

57. Thought constitutes the greatness of man.