“All human evil comes from a single cause, man’s inability to sit still in a room.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
table of contents
Quote
“All human evil comes from a single cause, man’s inability to sit still in a room.”
Explanation
Pascal suggests that the root of much human misery lies in our restless nature—our inability to embrace stillness, solitude, and reflection. Rather than confront the reality of our inner condition—our mortality, weakness, and spiritual need—we seek distraction, diversion, and constant activity. This urge to flee from ourselves drives us to ambition, conflict, indulgence, and ultimately, to various forms of evil. Our discomfort with quiet leads to destructive busyness.
In Pensées, Pascal explores this idea under the concept of divertissement (diversion), where he explains how people use entertainment, social status, or labor to avoid thinking about the deeper questions of life. He believed that solitude forces us to confront our limits, our dependence on God, and the fragility of human existence—truths that are uncomfortable but necessary for true wisdom. By avoiding stillness, we avoid truth.
In the modern world, Pascal’s insight is profoundly timely. With endless entertainment, digital distractions, and a culture of constant motion, people often avoid silence and introspection, sometimes without realizing it. His quote invites us to consider whether our frantic pace masks a deeper spiritual need, and whether learning to sit quietly—facing ourselves and our thoughts—might be the first step toward personal and moral renewal. Stillness, far from being unproductive, may be the path to truth.
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