“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.”
Explanation
Pascal expresses the dual nature of faith as both revealing and concealing, depending on the disposition of the individual. For those who seek belief with sincerity and openness, faith offers sufficient light—evidence, experience, and meaning—to support conviction. Yet for those who resist belief or demand absolute proof, the ambiguities and uncertainties of faith serve only to obscure it further. Thus, belief is not merely a matter of intellect, but also of the will and the heart’s inclination.
This idea is central to Pensées, where Pascal explores the hiddenness of God—a deliberate feature of divine revelation. God provides just enough signs for those who are willing to follow, but not so much as to overwhelm free will or force belief. Pascal’s famous “wager” hinges on this balance: since certainty is not given, one must choose where to place one’s trust. Faith, for Pascal, is a matter of loving readiness, not of logical compulsion.
In the modern era, this quote remains profoundly relevant. People often approach questions of faith with very different expectations—some looking for mystery, others demanding proof. Pascal reminds us that faith does not erase doubt, but coexists with it, and that the decision to believe involves more than evidence; it involves humility, desire, and openness to truth beyond reason. Faith shines its light only for those who are willing to look with receptive eyes.
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