--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Extreme intelligence is accused of being…" description: "\"“Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as extreme lack of it; only moderation is good. The majority have laid this down and attack anyone..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg" --- # Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as… ![“Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as extreme lack of it; only moderation is good. The majority have laid this down and attack anyone who deviates from it towards any extreme whatever. I am not going to be awkward, I readily consent to being put in the middle and refuse to be at…” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg) > ““Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as extreme lack of it; only moderation is good. The majority have laid this down and attack anyone who deviates from it towards any extreme whatever. I am not going to be awkward, I readily consent to being put in the middle and refuse to be at the bottom end, not because it is the bottom but because it is the end, for I should refuse just as much to be put at the top. It is deserting humanity to desert the middle way. The greatness of the human soul lies in knowing how to keep this course; greatness does not mean going outside it, but rather keeping within it.”” [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. The quote warns against extreme positions, urging a balanced, moderate path as the virtuous way for humanity. **In simple terms:** Avoid extremes; choose moderation. Key Takeaway Seek the middle way. Themes moderation balance virtue human nature extremism Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decision-making - political discourse - conflict resolution - leadership - education Key Concepts philosophy ethics humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify when moderation hinders necessary change? - When is taking a stand beyond the middle essential? A Different Perspective Extremes can sometimes be necessary for progress or justice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Middle way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-way/) ## Related quotes > [It is not genius, nor glory, nor love that reflects the greatness of the human soul; it is kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/it-is-not-genius-nor-glory-nor-love-that-reflects-the-greatness-of/) [Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/) > [It is foolish in the extreme not only to resort to force before necessity compels, but especially to madly create the conditions that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/it-is-foolish-in-the-extreme-not-only-to-resort-to-force-before/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [The wise are balanced, and the foolish are extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/the-wise-are-balanced-and-the-foolish-are-extreme/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [The greatness of the human being consists in this: that it is capable of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-greatness-of-the-human-being-consists-in-this-that-it-is-capable/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The true measure of greatness of a human being is their ability to express love in relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/the-true-measure-of-greatness-of-a-human-being-is-their-ability-to/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be other than it is, not in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/my-formula-for-greatness-in-a-human-being-is-amor-fati-that-one-wants-2/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [If you admire greatness in another human being, it is your own greatness you are seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/if-you-admire-greatness-in-another-human-being-it-is-your-own/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/my-formula-for-greatness-in-a-human-being-is-amor-fati-that-one-wants/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The greatness of the human being is not in the reincarnation of the world but in the reincarnation of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-greatness-of-the-human-being-is-not-in-the-reincarnation-of-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The greatness of the human personality begins at the hour of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-greatness-of-the-human-personality-begins-at-the-hour-of-birth-2/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Humility is the proper attitude towards all true greatness, including one's own greatness as a human being, but above all towards the greatness which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-wojtyla/humility-is-the-proper-attitude-towards-all-true-greatness-including/) Karol Wojtyla > [“The greatness of the human person derives from the spiritual reality of his soul, his divine filiation, his eternal destiny, all of which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-fernandez/the-greatness-of-the-human-person-derives-from-the-spiritual-reality/) [Francis Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-fernandez/) > [The middle way cannot be achieved by dividing two extremes in half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/the-middle-way-cannot-be-achieved-by-dividing-two-extremes-in-half/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [Some people will follow their minds without listening to their hearts, and others will follow their hearts without listening to their minds. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/some-people-will-follow-their-minds-without-listening-to-their-hearts/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Damn'd neuters, in their middle way of steering, Are neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/damn-d-neuters-in-their-middle-way-of-steering-are-neither-fish-nor/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## 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 Human soul quotes > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Organized religion has a part in the evolution of personal religion. It is the material upon which personal religion is grafted, but the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-montagu/organized-religion-has-a-part-in-the-evolution-of-personal-religion/) Lily Montagu > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“You and I, however, were so created that by anything and everything we do, we are saying to our Creator either “God, I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-ian-thomas/you-and-i-however-were-so-created-that-by-anything-and-everything-we/) [W. Ian Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-ian-thomas/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Adolescence is when the very worst and best impulses in the human soul struggle against each other for possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/adolescence-is-when-the-very-worst-and-best-impulses-in-the-human/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [“Knowledge is like an endless resource; a well of water that satisfies the innate thirst of the growing human soul. Therefore never stop learning...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chidi-okonkwo/knowledge-is-like-an-endless-resource-a-well-of-water-that-satisfies/) Chidi Okonkwo > [It wants not merely microscopic but telescopic power to know humanity in its essence; a power to discern its grandeur as well as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/it-wants-not-merely-microscopic-but-telescopic-power-to-know-humanity/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) > [“Years later, as a professor, Martin would try to find the words to articulate the power of togetherness in a world where togetherness had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shattuck/years-later-as-a-professor-martin-would-try-to-find-the-words-to/) [Jessica Shattuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shattuck/) > [Uncertainty! fell demon of our fears! The human soul that can support despair, supports not thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mallet/uncertainty-fell-demon-of-our-fears-the-human-soul-that-can-support/) [David Mallet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mallet/) > [Not all human souls but only the pious ones are divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-hermes/not-all-human-souls-but-only-the-pious-ones-are-divine/) [Georg Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-hermes/) > [“The relationship between love and appropriate action is demonstrated repeatedly in the scriptures and is highlighted by the Savior's instruction to His Apostles: 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/the-relationship-between-love-and-appropriate-action-is-demonstrated/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Style used to be an interaction between the human soul and tools that were limiting. In the digital era, it will have to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/style-used-to-be-an-interaction-between-the-human-soul-and-tools-that/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) [Browse all 675 Human soul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as extreme lack of it; only moderation is good. The majority have laid this down and attack anyone who deviates from it towards any extreme whatever. I am not going to be awkward, I readily consent to being put in the middle and refuse to be at the bottom end, not because it is the bottom but because it is the end, for I should refuse just as much to be put at the top. It is deserting humanity to desert the middle way. The greatness of the human soul lies in knowing how to keep this course; greatness does not mean going outside it, but rather keeping within it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Blaise Pascal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being-as-foolish-as-extreme-lack/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human soul" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being-as-foolish-as-extreme-lack/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/blaise-pascal-167_human-soul_extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being_2064378.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Extreme intelligence is accused of being as foolish as extreme lack of it; only moderation is good. The…” — 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": "“Extreme intelligence is accused of being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being-as-foolish-as-extreme-lack/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/extreme-intelligence-is-accused-of-being-as-foolish-as-extreme-lack/#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 } } ] } ```