“If man made himself the first object of study, he would see how incapable he is of going further. How can a part know the whole?”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“If man made himself the first object of study, he would see how incapable he is of going further. How can a part know the whole?”
Explanation
Pascal argues that when man turns inward and honestly studies his own nature, he encounters his fundamental limitations. Human beings, as part of the universe, lack the perspective to fully comprehend the whole, including ultimate truths about existence, God, or the cosmos. Just as a fragment cannot grasp the entirety to which it belongs, man, being finite and fallible, is constrained by his own position and nature in his search for total understanding.
This idea aligns with Pascal’s overarching theme in Pensées: the duality of man’s greatness and wretchedness. Though capable of reason and reflection, man is ultimately a creature bound by space, time, and error. Pascal critiques the arrogance of those who believe they can explain the whole of reality through reason alone. Instead, he calls for humility, recognizing that our position as a part—not the whole—means that some truths must come through revelation, not deduction.
In today’s context of scientific advancement and philosophical inquiry, Pascal’s insight remains striking. While knowledge has expanded, our perspective is still limited, and ultimate questions—about consciousness, origin, or purpose—remain elusive. His quote reminds us that true wisdom begins with recognizing the limits of our own mind, and that sometimes, to understand the whole, we must look beyond ourselves toward something greater than reason alone can reach.
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