“Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them.”
Explanation
Pascal affirms that faith and the senses occupy different realms, but they are not in conflict. Faith reveals realities beyond sensory perception—God, the soul, eternity—but it does not negate what the senses observe. The senses give us facts about the material world; faith adds spiritual truth, guiding us toward meaning that transcends, but does not contradict, physical experience. Thus, faith is not irrational, but suprarational—it extends our understanding rather than opposing it.
This distinction reflects Pascal’s broader project in Pensées, where he seeks to reconcile reason, faith, and experience. Living during a time of rising scientific rationalism, Pascal accepted the validity of empirical knowledge but saw its limits. For him, faith completes what reason and sense begin, offering insight into the moral and eternal dimensions of existence. True belief does not demand rejecting the senses, but recognizing they are not the final measure of truth.
In today’s world, this quote remains especially relevant in the ongoing discussion between science and religion, materialism and spirituality. Pascal’s view encourages us to respect what empirical methods reveal, while also admitting that some truths—love, purpose, divine presence—lie beyond the reach of microscopes or telescopes. Faith, then, is not blindness; it is a vision that begins where the senses end, without denying what they see.
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