Anyone who wants to know the full extent of man's vanity has only to consider the causes and effects of love. The cause is a <i>je ne sais quoi</i>. … - Blaise Pascal

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Engraved portrait of Blaise Pascal, facing left

Anyone who wants to know the full extent of man's vanity has only to consider the causes and effects of love. The cause is a je ne sais quoi. (Corneille.) And its effects are terrifying. This indefinable something, so trifling that we cannot recognize it, upsets the whole earth, princes, armies, the entire world.

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About Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal (19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662) was a French mathematician, logician, physicist and theologian.

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, unknown; a copy of the painting of François II Quesnel, which was made for Gérard Edelinck en 1691[réf. nécessaire]. (Public domain / CC0)

Also Known As

Pen Names: Louis de Montalte Amos Dettonville Salomon de Tultie
Alternative Names: Pascal Dettonville Paskal Blez

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Additional quotes by Blaise Pascal

Rules for Definitions. I. Not to undertake to define any of the things so well known of themselves that the clearer terms cannot be had to explain them. II. Not to leave any terms that are at all obscure or ambiguous without definition. III. Not to employ in the definition of terms any words but such as are perfectly known or already explained.

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