“The last proceeding of reason is to recognize that there is an infinity of things which are beyond it. There is nothing so conformable to reason as this disavowal of reason.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“The last proceeding of reason is to recognize that there is an infinity of things which are beyond it. There is nothing so conformable to reason as this disavowal of reason.”
Explanation
Pascal asserts that the highest function of reason is to understand its own limits. True rationality does not claim omnipotence, but acknowledges that reality contains mysteries, truths, and dimensions that lie beyond logical demonstration or empirical proof. In this way, reason’s most reasonable act is its own self-disavowal—the recognition that it cannot grasp everything. This is not a rejection of reason, but rather its humbling completion, guiding the intellect toward reverence and openness.
In Pensées, Pascal frequently critiques both the dogmatic rationalism of his age and the shallow skepticism that denies all certainty. As a brilliant mathematician and scientist, he valued reason deeply—but he also saw that reason alone cannot account for faith, love, beauty, or the human longing for transcendence. For Pascal, wisdom begins when reason knows where it must yield, especially in matters of the divine and eternal.
In modern discourse, where reason is often upheld as the supreme tool for understanding the world, Pascal’s insight remains a profound challenge. Whether in science, philosophy, or personal belief, there comes a point where explanation fails and mystery begins. His quote calls us to embrace intellectual humility, to recognize that reason’s greatness lies not in pretending it knows all, but in pointing toward the unknowable with honesty and awe.
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