--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I set it down as a fact that if all men…" description: "\"“I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.”\" — Blaise Pascal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg" --- # I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each… ![“I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg) > ““I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.”” [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. If everyone knew each other's true opinions, genuine friendship would be impossible. **In simple terms:** Complete honesty destroys friendship. Key Takeaway Balance truth with discretion in relationships. Themes trust communication social dynamics Mood thoughtful pragmatic cautious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - teamwork - family counseling - political negotiation - online interactions Key Concepts honesty social harmony psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to with opinions? - How can you maintain trust without full transparency? A Different Perspective Some level of privacy or politeness is necessary for social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Four friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-friends/) ## Related quotes > [If all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-all-men-knew-what-each-said-of-the-other-there-would-not-be-four/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [All men naturally hate one another. I hold it a fact, that if men knew exactly what one says of the other, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/all-men-naturally-hate-one-another-i-hold-it-a-fact-that-if-men-knew/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“I lay it down as a fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-lay-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men-knew-what-others-say-of-them/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I maintain that, if everyone knew what others said about him, there would not be four friends in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-maintain-that-if-everyone-knew-what-others-said-about-him-there/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [If all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-all-men-knew-what-others-say-of-them-there-would-not-be-four/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I take it as a matter not to be disputed, that if all knew what each said of the other, there would not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-take-it-as-a-matter-not-to-be-disputed-that-if-all-knew-what-each/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [If men knew themselves, God would heal and pardon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-men-knew-themselves-god-would-heal-and-pardon-them/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Our whole civilization rests on the fact that men have always succeeded in beating off the attack of the re-distributors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/our-whole-civilization-rests-on-the-fact-that-men-have-always/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Don't be bashful; we're among gentlemen. It's a known fact that we men are the missing link between the pirate and the pig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/don-t-be-bashful-we-re-among-gentlemen-it-s-a-known-fact-that-we-men/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Once again, to the ladies out there—here’s a fact for you: Men pretty much have sex on the brain twenty-four-seven. The exact figure is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/once-again-to-the-ladies-out-there-here-s-a-fact-for-you-men-pretty/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [The greater part of all the mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-greater-part-of-all-the-mischief-in-the-world-arises-from-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Besides reasoning about matters of fact, men also make moral judgements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/besides-reasoning-about-matters-of-fact-men-also-make-moral-judgements/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [When friends speak overmuch of times gone by, often it's because they sense their present time is turning them from friends to strangers. Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/when-friends-speak-overmuch-of-times-gone-by-often-it-s-because-they/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I've said many of my friends are in jail; some already died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-ve-said-many-of-my-friends-are-in-jail-some-already-died/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [I always said to my friends that I would play for Chelsea one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-always-said-to-my-friends-that-i-would-play-for-chelsea-one-day/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) ## 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 Four friends quotes > [Once, four friends and I cut all our hair off, like boys. A couple of them cried afterwards, but I thought we looked really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-wickstead/once-four-friends-and-i-cut-all-our-hair-off-like-boys-a-couple-of/) [Emilia Wickstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-wickstead/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [This thing happened where I noticed anytime I got together with four friends or more, the conversation goes to food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/this-thing-happened-where-i-noticed-anytime-i-got-together-with-four/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [Supari' is about four friends, each one chasing a different dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/supari-is-about-four-friends-each-one-chasing-a-different-dream/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [I think one of my favorite things to do is just lock myself up in a small room and listen to music and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-think-one-of-my-favorite-things-to-do-is-just-lock-myself-up-in-a/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [We're having a blast. Just four friends getting together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-van-halen/we-re-having-a-blast-just-four-friends-getting-together/) [Alex Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-van-halen/) > [I maintain that, if everyone knew what others said about him, there would not be four friends in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-maintain-that-if-everyone-knew-what-others-said-about-him-there/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [All men naturally hate one another. I hold it a fact, that if men knew exactly what one says of the other, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/all-men-naturally-hate-one-another-i-hold-it-a-fact-that-if-men-knew/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Actually, I don't even like parties. I would much prefer a room with four friends who sit around and have dinner. I detest nightclubs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/actually-i-don-t-even-like-parties-i-would-much-prefer-a-room-with/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Coldplay are just four friends trying to make great music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/coldplay-are-just-four-friends-trying-to-make-great-music/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) > [“your marks … Get set … Go!” The four friends”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mbfrw/your-marks-get-set-go-the-four-friends/) Mbfrw > [“Consider that, if you talk, if you babble, you will sacrifice the head of your master, who has so much confidence in your fidelity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/consider-that-if-you-talk-if-you-babble-you-will-sacrifice-the-head/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [The detachment of the artist is kind of creepy. It's kind of rude, and yet really it's where art comes from. It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/the-detachment-of-the-artist-is-kind-of-creepy-it-s-kind-of-rude-and/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [“Just about every kid in America wished they could be Kyle Keeley. Especially when he zoomed across their TV screens as a flaming squirrel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grabenstein/just-about-every-kid-in-america-wished-they-could-be-kyle-keeley-2/) [Chris Grabenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grabenstein/) > [I've been to the Empire State Building with four friends, and it was very beautiful at that time around midnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeru-kobayashi/i-ve-been-to-the-empire-state-building-with-four-friends-and-it-was/) [Takeru Kobayashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeru-kobayashi/) [Browse all 25 Four friends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-friends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Blaise Pascal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men-knew-what-each-said-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Four friends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men-knew-what-each-said-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/blaise-pascal-167_four-friends_i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men_1071606.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in…” — 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": "“I set it down as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men-knew-what-each-said-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-set-it-down-as-a-fact-that-if-all-men-knew-what-each-said-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```