“That we must love one God only is a thing so evident that it does not require miracles to prove it.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“That we must love one God only is a thing so evident that it does not require miracles to prove it.”
Explanation
Pascal asserts that the truth of loving one God is so self-evident, so naturally aligned with reason and conscience, that it stands on its own without the need for miraculous validation. The unity and supremacy of God, and the human obligation to love Him above all else, flows from the very nature of divine perfection and human dependence. A miracle may confirm belief, but the duty to love the one true God arises from moral clarity and rational reflection itself.
In Pensées, Pascal often distinguishes between external signs (such as miracles) and internal conviction, emphasizing that the heart and mind already bear witness to divine truth. While he defends the legitimacy of miracles as part of Christian belief, he insists that some truths—especially ethical or spiritual ones—are accessible without supernatural proof. To recognize the singular worth of God and the call to love Him requires openness and humility, not necessarily divine spectacle.
In a modern context, where people often seek signs or extraordinary evidence before committing to belief, Pascal’s quote offers a different perspective. He invites us to consider whether some truths are already written into our moral being—that to love what is supremely good, supremely just, and supremely true is not a command that needs proof, but a recognition of what is most fitting and natural. His message is simple but profound: the heart knows its highest love, and for that, no miracle is needed.
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