“Man’s greatness lies in his power of thought.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“Man’s greatness lies in his power of thought.”
Explanation
Pascal locates the dignity and uniqueness of humanity not in physical strength or social status, but in the capacity to think. While man is fragile, mortal, and often miserable, the ability to reflect, reason, and seek truth sets him apart from all other creatures. Thought allows humans to recognize their condition, ponder the infinite, and strive for meaning—it is the very faculty that gives life its moral and spiritual dimension.
This idea is central to Pensées, where Pascal famously contrasts man’s greatness with his wretchedness. Though man is “a reed, the weakest in nature,” he is “a thinking reed”—and this thinking, however limited, gives him a kind of nobility. Even in suffering, thought allows man to contemplate his existence and his relationship with God. For Pascal, it is not material power, but the inner life of the mind and soul that reveals true human greatness.
In an age where value is often measured by productivity, wealth, or physical success, Pascal’s insight offers a deeper standard. The capacity to think—ethically, philosophically, spiritually—is what grants us our highest worth. His quote invites us to cultivate this inner power, to use thought not only to master the world, but to understand ourselves and seek truth. Man’s greatness is not in what he possesses, but in what he perceives.
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