The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means, the future alone our end. Thus, we never actually live, but hope to live. - Blaise Pascal

God only pours out his light into the mind after having subdued the rebellion of the will by an altogether heavenly gentleness which charms and wins it.

[80] Respect means; put yourself out. That may look pointless, but it is quite right, because it amounts to saying: I should certainly put myself out if you needed it, because I do so when you do not; besides, respect serves to distinguish the great. If respect meant sitting in an armchair we should be showing everyone respect and then there would be no way of marking distinction, but we make the distinction quite clear by putting ourselves out.

Știința lucrurilor exterioare nu mă poate consola de necunoașterea moralei în vremuri de amărăciune; dar știința moravurilor mă va consola întotdeauna de ignorarea științelor exterioare.