Knowledge Quote by Blaise Pascal
“The knowledge of God without that of man's misery causes pride. The knowledge of man's misery without that of God causes despair. The knowledge of Jesus Christ constitutes the middle course, because in Him we find both God and our misery.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Pensées, 1670
Knowing God without recognizing human suffering leads to pride; knowing suffering without God leads to despair; Christ bridges both, offering balanced understanding.
In simple terms: Balance divine insight with human empathy.
Key Takeaway
Seek a view that embraces both spirituality and humanity.
Themes
theology
humanism
balance
existential insight
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- counseling
- ethical decision‑making
- spiritual guidance
- social work
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
religious studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile faith with observed suffering?
- What role does compassion play in your spirituality?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on one side can cause dogmatism or nihilism.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
