---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not be astonished to see simple people…"
description: "\"“Do not be astonished to see simple people believing without argument. God makes them love him and hate themselves. He inclines their hearts to believe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg"
---

#  Do not be astonished to see simple people believing…

![“Do not be astonished to see simple people believing without argument. God makes them love him and hate themselves. He inclines their hearts to believe. We shall never believe, with an effective belief and faith, unless God inclines our hearts.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg)

> ““Do not be astonished to see simple people believing without argument. God makes them love him and hate themselves. He inclines their hearts to believe. We shall never believe, with an effective belief and faith, unless God inclines our hearts.””

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human belief often stems from divine influence rather than logical argument, leading to love for God and self‑directicism.

**In simple terms:** Faith is guided by God, not reason.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the role of grace in belief.

Themes

faith divine influence human nature

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- spiritual practice
- religious teaching

Key Concepts

theology philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does divine grace shape personal convictions?
- Can belief exist without argument?

A Different Perspective

Faith may be challenged by rational critique.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-god-536241/) [Belief Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-faith/) [Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/) [Believing Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-argument-6031331/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/)

## Related quotes

> [The goal of faith isn't to take away your fears but to leverage those fears to create bolder belief. Faith leads you past your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/the-goal-of-faith-isn-t-to-take-away-your-fears-but-to-leverage-those/)

[Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/)

> [Why do people argue? Even the wisest of men have not found God through argument! Is God a subject for argument?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/why-do-people-argue-even-the-wisest-of-men-have-not-found-god-through/)

[Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/)

> [“Divine Hiddenness Argument against God’s Existence Divine Hiddenness does not necessarily mean that the Ultimate Being hides; it instead means that our human powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/divine-hiddenness-argument-against-god-s-existence-divine-hiddenness/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [“People often say "God gave you two ears but only one mouth because He wants you to listen twice as much as you talk."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-m-thompson/people-often-say-god-gave-you-two-ears-but-only-one-mouth-because-he/)

[Christopher M. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-m-thompson/)

> [“Every argument for God and every attribute ascribed to Him rests on a false metaphysical premise. None can survive for a moment on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peikoff/every-argument-for-god-and-every-attribute-ascribed-to-him-rests-on-a/)

[Leonard Peikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peikoff/)

> [“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/my-argument-against-god-was-that-the-universe-seemed-so-cruel-and-2/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/prayer-is-not-an-argument-with-god-to-persuade-him-to-move-things-our/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [“Some people like to argue about God.” “Not necessary,” he said. “I have good idea, for if you meet some person from different religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/some-people-like-to-argue-about-god-not-necessary-he-said-i-have-good/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I have good idea, for if you meet some person from different religion and he want to make argument about God. My idea is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-have-good-idea-for-if-you-meet-some-person-from-different-religion/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [The writings of leading ID proponents reveal that the designer postulated by their argument is the God of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-jones-iii/the-writings-of-leading-id-proponents-reveal-that-the-designer/)

[John E. Jones III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-jones-iii/)

> [“You are an argument for God's existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-are-an-argument-for-god-s-existence/)

[Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/)

> [There is no evidence for a god, no coherent definition of a god, no good argument for a god, good positive arguments against a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/there-is-no-evidence-for-a-god-no-coherent-definition-of-a-god-no/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/my-argument-against-god-was-that-the-universe-seemed-so-cruel-and/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [“Every argument against the God of the Bible is based on made-up stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petros-scientia/every-argument-against-the-god-of-the-bible-is-based-on-made-up-stuff/)

[Petros Scientia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petros-scientia/)

> [For centuries the most powerful argument for God's existence from the physical world was the so-called argument from design: Living things are so beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/for-centuries-the-most-powerful-argument-for-god-s-existence-from-the/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

## More by Blaise Pascal

> [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-read-too-fast-or-too-slowly-we-understand-nothing/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/mahomet-established-a-religion-by-putting-his-enemies-to-death-jesus/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Reflect on death as in Jesus Christ, not as without Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [The majority is the best way, because it is visible, and has strength to make itself obeyed. Yet it is the opinion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-majority-is-the-best-way-because-it-is-visible-and-has-strength/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

[Explore all 988 Blaise Pascal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

## More Believing quotes

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [I've never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-never-let-anyone-talk-me-into-not-believing-in-myself/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [“Believing is not the same as knowing. Believing is second-hand knowledge, whereas knowing is first-hand experience. When your action comes from a level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-kanna/believing-is-not-the-same-as-knowing-believing-is-second-hand/)

[Yogi Kanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-kanna/)

> [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/)

[Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/)

> [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/)

[Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/)

> [It's never late to go after your dreams. All it takes is believing and hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/it-s-never-late-to-go-after-your-dreams-all-it-takes-is-believing-and/)

[Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/)

> [“There are five important things for living a successful and fulfilling life: never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/there-are-five-important-things-for-living-a-successful-and/)

[Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/)

> [Start believing that things are going to change for the better. Not because you deserve it, but simply because God loves you that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-believing-that-things-are-going-to-change-for-the-better-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I never stopped believing in my ability or what I was doing. I want to pass that sense of faith and perseverance on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vantile-whitfield/i-never-stopped-believing-in-my-ability-or-what-i-was-doing-i-want-to/)

[Vantile Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vantile-whitfield/)

> [“It’s not easy to believe in anything when your whole world turns upside down. The main thing is to keep believing in yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-jayne-ashford/it-s-not-easy-to-believe-in-anything-when-your-whole-world-turns/)

[Lindsay Jayne Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-jayne-ashford/)

> [Stop expecting, Start believing¦ If you truly love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-expecting-start-believing-if-you-truly-love/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [This idea that once you get into politics... you are now signed up for lifelong duty being in elective office, makes a fundamental error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/this-idea-that-once-you-get-into-politics-you-are-now-signed-up-for/)

[Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/)

> [Chairman Mao not only introduced Pinyin in China, but also simplified half the Chinese characters, believing that fewer strokes would enable more people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/chairman-mao-not-only-introduced-pinyin-in-china-but-also-simplified/)

[David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/)

> [It's one thing believing in yourself, it's another thing having other people believe in you, and that is the greatest gift, honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/it-s-one-thing-believing-in-yourself-it-s-another-thing-having-other/)

[Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/)

> [We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We no longer need to beg or plead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/we-have-been-deceived-into-believing-prayer-is-all-about-persuading/)

[Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/)

[Browse all 1,471 Believing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Do not be astonished to see simple people believing without argument. God makes them love him and hate themselves. He inclines their hearts to believe. We shall never believe, with an effective belief and faith, unless God inclines our hearts.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Blaise Pascal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-people-believing-without-argument/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-people-believing-without-argument/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/blaise-pascal-167_believing_do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-peopl_3216752.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do not be astonished to see simple people believing without argument. God makes them love him and hate…” — Blaise Pascal",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Blaise Pascal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Do not be astonished to see...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-people-believing-without-argument/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-not-be-astonished-to-see-simple-people-believing-without-argument/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
