“Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.”
Explanation
Pascal advocates for intellectual humility balanced by broad curiosity. He acknowledges the limits of human knowledge—that no one can master every detail of even a single subject. Rather than becoming paralyzed by this impossibility, he suggests a practical wisdom: cultivate a general awareness across many fields, so that one may develop a flexible, integrated understanding of the world. This approach values breadth over absolute depth, not to replace expertise, but to complement it.
This idea reflects Pascal’s own diverse life—as a mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and theologian. He was acutely aware that human understanding is fragmented and finite, and that arrogance in one domain often blinds a person to truths in another. In Pensées, he often warns against the dangers of overconfidence and narrow specialization, urging instead a perspective that is both inquisitive and modest.
In today’s age of information overload and hyper-specialization, Pascal’s quote remains remarkably relevant. While specialists are essential, a well-rounded grasp of history, science, philosophy, ethics, and the arts equips individuals to think critically, connect ideas, and navigate complexity. His wisdom suggests that no knowledge is wasted, and that cultivating a wide intellectual palette allows us to live more thoughtfully, empathetically, and adaptively in an ever-changing world.
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