“ The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be miserable. A tree does not know itself to be miserable. It is then being miserable to know oneself to be miserable; but it is also being great to know that one is miserable. ”
Blaise Pascal, Pensées (1670). copy citation
Author | Blaise Pascal |
---|---|
Source | Pensées |
Topic | greatness tree |
Date | 1670 |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | Translated by W. F. Trotter |
Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18269/18269-h/18269-h.htm |
Context
“Instinct, reason.—We have an incapacity of proof, insurmountable by all dogmatism. We have an idea of truth, invincible to all scepticism. [Pg 107]
396
Two things instruct man about his whole nature; instinct and experience.
397
The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be miserable. A tree does not know itself to be miserable. It is then being miserable to know oneself to be miserable; but it is also being great to know that one is miserable. 398
All these same miseries prove man's greatness. They are the miseries of a great lord, of a deposed king.
399
We are not miserable without feeling it. A ruined house is not miserable. Man only is miserable.” source
396
Two things instruct man about his whole nature; instinct and experience.
397
The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be miserable. A tree does not know itself to be miserable. It is then being miserable to know oneself to be miserable; but it is also being great to know that one is miserable. 398
All these same miseries prove man's greatness. They are the miseries of a great lord, of a deposed king.
399
We are not miserable without feeling it. A ruined house is not miserable. Man only is miserable.” source