Do not close the circle. Leave it open. Descartes closes the circle. Pascal leaves it open. Rousseau's triumph over the encyclopedists is to have left his circle open when they closed theirs.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Keeping ideas open leads to triumph over those who restrict thought.
- In plain terms
- Leave questions open like Pascal did instead of closing them like Descartes.
- What can you take from it?
- Stay open to new ideas to succeed.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When should we stop asking questions?
- Is certainty always bad?
Another view
Some closure is necessary for action and decision making.
More from Jean Cocteau
See your disappointments as good fortune. One plan's deflation is another's inflation.
Permalink to quote #71 Allow the power of the soul to grow as flagrant as the power of sex.
Permalink to quote #73 Do not fear being ridiculous in relation to the ridiculous.
Permalink to quote #70
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