“We only consult the ear because the heart is wanting.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“We only consult the ear because the heart is wanting.”
Explanation
Pascal suggests that when the heart—the seat of sincerity, love, and moral intuition—is absent or lacking, we turn to superficial substitutes. In this case, “consulting the ear” refers to seeking pleasure in words, flattery, music, or eloquence, rather than engaging with genuine feeling or inner conviction. When the heart is empty, we become preoccupied with how things sound rather than what they mean. This signals a deep spiritual or emotional void masked by aesthetic or rhetorical appeal.
In Pensées, Pascal often contrasts external appearances with inner truth. He saw that humans, fearful of silence and self-awareness, fill their lives with diversions—including entertainment, wit, and clever speech—to escape the discomfort of confronting themselves. His point here is that emotional and moral shallowness creates a hunger for noise, praise, or distraction, as though listening could replace understanding, or sound could substitute for substance.
This quote resonates in today’s world of media overload and image-driven culture, where the focus often falls on style over substance—catchy slogans, soundbites, and emotional appeal often displace genuine dialogue or introspection. Pascal reminds us that when the heart is engaged—when we live with depth and meaning—we do not need constant noise to fill the void. Instead of merely listening for what pleases, we should strive to restore the heart’s capacity to feel, to love, and to discern.
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