“Man’s true nature being lost, everything becomes his nature; as, his true good being lost, everything becomes his good.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“Man’s true nature being lost, everything becomes his nature; as, his true good being lost, everything becomes his good.”
Explanation
Pascal laments the fall of humanity from its original, intended state, suggesting that once we lose sight of our true essence and purpose, we begin to accept false substitutes. When a person no longer knows what it truly means to be human—rational, moral, and spiritual—they redefine their identity according to whatever instincts or desires dominate them. Similarly, when the true good—virtue, God, or eternal truth—is forgotten, people begin to call anything that pleases them “good,” no matter how base or fleeting.
This idea flows directly from Pascal’s Christian worldview in Pensées, where he explores the effects of original sin and spiritual alienation. In his view, humanity was created for communion with God and for noble purpose. But through the fall, we became disoriented, and now pursue wealth, power, pleasure, or honor as if they were ultimate goods. This distortion leads to confusion, suffering, and the loss of meaning—because we chase shadows rather than substance.
In the modern world, Pascal’s critique feels eerily prescient. Consumerism, moral relativism, and identity fragmentation all reflect his concern that, without a fixed standard of truth and goodness, people define themselves by trends, appetites, or ideology. His warning is not merely religious—it is existential: without anchoring in something true and stable, we risk calling anything “natural” or “good,” even when it degrades us. Rediscovering our true nature and good, for Pascal, begins with humility, reflection, and the pursuit of higher truths.
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