Baseness Quote by Blaise Pascal
“Those who profess contempt for men, and put them on a level with beasts, yet wish to be admired and believed by men, and contradict themselves by their own feelings--their nature, which is stronger than all, convincing them of the greatness of man more forcibly than reason convinces them of his baseness.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: Pensées, 1670
People may denigrate men while secretly desiring their approval, revealing a conflict between contempt and admiration driven by deeper nature.
In simple terms: Contempt for men hides a desire for their respect, showing inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reconcile hidden contradictions.
Themes
human nature
self‑deception
masculinity
contradiction
Mood
critical
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- leadership
- personal growth
- gender relations
- public speaking
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we sometimes despise what we crave?
- How does this conflict affect our decisions?
A Different Perspective
Self‑deception can blind rational judgment.
![“There is no more evil thing in this world than race prejudice, none at all. [...] It justifies and holds together more baseness, cruelty, and abomination than any other sort of error in the world.” quote by H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fc7/h-g-wells-1122_abomination_there-is-no-more-evil-thing-in-this-worl_478066.jpg)
