If we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural. If we offend the principles of reason our religi… - Blaise Pascal

What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus to be able to satisfy the wants and the desires of many. It is these wants and these desires that attract them towards you, and that make them submit to you: were it not for these, they would not even look at you; but they hope, by these services... to obtain from you some part of the good which they desire, and of which they see that you have the disposal.

Two contrary reasons. We must begin with that, otherwise we cannot understand anything and everything is heretical. And even at the end of each truth we must add that we are bearing the opposite truth in mind.

We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others.