--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The knowledge of God without that of…" description: "\"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 Jesu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/blaise-pascal-167_knowledge_the-knowledge-of-god-without-that-of-man_2613211.jpg" --- # The knowledge of God without that of man's misery causes… ![“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.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/blaise-pascal-167_knowledge_the-knowledge-of-god-without-that-of-man_2613211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/blaise-pascal-167_knowledge_the-knowledge-of-god-without-that-of-man_2613211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/blaise-pascal-167_knowledge_the-knowledge-of-god-without-that-of-man_2613211.jpg) > “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.” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-knowledge-1610236/) [God Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-causes-468497/) [God Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-misery-2021245/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Misery Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-causes-631932/) [Misery God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-god-2046282/) ## Related quotes > [Without the knowledge of our wretchedness, the knowledge of God creates pride. With it, the knowledge of God creates despair. 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And the delay may be long enough to hide the connection between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-bad-consequences-of-a-government-program-usually-don-t-show-up/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [“It's so easy for humans to blame God for their misery, Manfri said. Really, it's mostly of their own making.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-c-patten/it-s-so-easy-for-humans-to-blame-god-for-their-misery-manfri-said/) [Sarah C. Patten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-c-patten/) > [If you wish to be miserable, think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-you-wish-to-be-miserable-think-about-yourself-about-what-you-want/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [The nearer we are to God, the less we will have occasions to cry or weep. 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God did not destine it to be either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/death-must-no-longer-be-either-the-penalty-for-prosperity-or-the/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [If God made the world, I would not be that God, for the misery of the world would break my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-god-made-the-world-i-would-not-be-that-god-for-the-misery-of-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The saloon is a liar. It promises good cheer and sends sorrow. It promises prosperity and sends adversity. It promises happiness and sends misery……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/the-saloon-is-a-liar-it-promises-good-cheer-and-sends-sorrow-it/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) > [The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-knowledge-of-god-is-very-far-from-the-love-of-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## 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. 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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. 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Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. 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