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Cutting Quote by Blaise Pascal

“Imagination magnifies small objects with fantastic exaggeration until they fill our soul, and with bold insolence cuts down great things to its own size, as when speaking of God.” quote by Blaise Pascal
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“Imagination magnifies small objects with fantastic exaggeration until they fill our soul, and with bold insolence cuts down great things to its own size, as when speaking of God.”

Blaise Pascal

About This Quote

Source Treatise: Pensées by Blaise Pascal, 1670

Imagination can both enlarge trivial ideas and diminish grand concepts, especially when trying to comprehend the divine.

In simple terms: Imagination distorts scale.

Key Takeaway

Balance imagination with humility.

Themes

faith imagination humility perception

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • artistic creation
  • scientific theorizing
  • spiritual contemplation
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

philosophy theology cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • When does imagination become a hindrance?
  • How can we keep imagination grounded?
A Different Perspective

Overreliance on imagination may lead to misinterpretation of reality.

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