All human evil comes from a single cause, man’s inability to sit still in a room. - Blaise Pascal

Several particular maxims... are as powerful, although false, in carrying away belief, as those the most true.

The word ‘enemy’ is therefore ambiguous, but if he says elsewhere, as he does, that he will deliver his people from their sins,1 as do Isaiah2 and others, the ambiguity is removed, and the double meaning of enemies reduced to the single meaning of iniquities.

It is superstitious to put one's hope in formalities, but arrogant to refuse to submit to them.