“Desire and force between them are responsible for all our actions; desire causes our voluntary acts, force our involuntary.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
table of contents
Quote
“Desire and force between them are responsible for all our actions; desire causes our voluntary acts, force our involuntary.”
Explanation
Pascal draws a sharp distinction between two fundamental motivations behind human behavior: desire and force. Desire is what drives our willing, conscious choices, such as seeking knowledge, love, or success. These are actions we embrace because we want to, and they define our sense of agency and moral responsibility. In contrast, force compels action without consent, such as acts driven by necessity, coercion, or physical constraint—things done not from will, but from compulsion.
In the 17th century, Pascal lived through political and religious upheavals, including the Thirty Years’ War and tensions between church and state. This quote reflects his keen awareness of human vulnerability to external power, both divine and political. His Pensées often explores the limits of freedom and the role of grace and compulsion in spiritual life, hinting that even in matters of faith, not all belief stems from voluntary desire but sometimes from pressures of circumstance or inner struggle.
This insight remains strikingly applicable today. In modern life, many choices are shaped by a mix of desire and compulsion. A person may take a job out of passion (desire) or out of economic necessity (force). Pascal’s distinction helps us examine our motivations—to ask whether we act from genuine will or under unseen pressures. It encourages greater self-awareness and compassion, both toward ourselves and others, in understanding the true nature of our actions.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
