Excerpts from a Book on Pascal

 "To be utterly lost in the woods is unfortunate.
   To be absolutely unconcerned about it is unreasonable." -Pascal

Making Sense of it All, Morris:

"Being unable to cure death, wretchedness, and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not to think about such things." (p. 33)

"Pascal saw friends who were indifferent and apathetic to ultimate questions of life. He believed that 'People who excused themselves on the grounds of it being disputed....do not love truth.'.... An object of love is not a matter for indifference. When you have it, you embrace it; when you lack it, you pursue it." (p. 17)

"Pascal believed that each of us is either betting for God- betting that there is a God-- or betting against God-- betting that there is no God-- by the way we are living right now....Either we are living as if there is a God, praying, seeking to determine God's will, and trying to live in accordance with those determinations, or we are living as if there is no God, refraining from or ignoring all such religious activities. There is, according to Pascal, no middle ground. We already are making one bet or the other. Which is it? Which should it be?" (p. 115)

I've really enjoyed reading this book over the last week. It has let my mind wander and contemplate many different avenues. Previously I was very interested in the life of Pascal and his thoughts on theology, creation, and science. This book has proven to be engaging and I'm excited to read further writings on/from him.