“We conceal it from ourselves in vain — we must always love something. In those matters seemingly removed from love, the feeling is secretly to be found, and man cannot possibly live for a moment without it.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“We conceal it from ourselves in vain — we must always love something. In those matters seemingly removed from love, the feeling is secretly to be found, and man cannot possibly live for a moment without it.”
Explanation
Pascal reveals love as an inescapable force at the core of human nature. Even when we deny it or claim to act purely from reason, ambition, or duty, some form of love—whether directed toward a person, an ideal, a passion, or even the self—is always present and motivating us. Love is not optional or occasional; it is the continuous emotional current that gives shape and direction to every human life.
This idea reflects Pascal’s broader reflections in Pensées on the human heart, which he believed was always in motion, always seeking, always attaching itself to something. Whether it is love of truth, pleasure, glory, security, or God, the soul must have an object of affection or allegiance. When we claim detachment or neutrality, Pascal suggests, we are often deceiving ourselves—even those actions we believe to be “unemotional” often conceal hidden devotions.
In today’s world of rationalism, productivity, and emotional suppression, Pascal’s insight is especially meaningful. It reminds us that love is not weakness, nor a distraction from life’s serious tasks—it is the foundation of all striving and meaning. His quote challenges us to ask: What is it I truly love, even unconsciously? And if love is inevitable, as Pascal insists, then wisdom lies in choosing well what—or whom—we give our heart to.
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