Beast Quote by Blaise Pascal
“It is of dangerous consequence to represent to man how near he is to the level of beasts, without showing him at the same time his greatness. It is likewise dangerous to let him see his greatness without his meanness. It is more dangerous yet to leave him ignorant of either; but very beneficial that he should be made sensible of both.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Pensées, Blaise Pascal, 1670
Human beings need to recognize both their noble potential and their base instincts to achieve balanced self-awareness.
In simple terms: Know both your greatness and your flaws.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility and ambition together.
Themes
humility
ambition
self‑knowledge
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- leadership
- personal development
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of your greatness do you ignore?
- How does acknowledging flaws empower growth?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on one side can lead to arrogance or despair.
![“No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb [Earth] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic beasts.” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/olaf-stapledon-9950_angel_no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-anoth_12107.jpg)
