--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is ruled by force, not by…" description: "\"The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion uses force.\" — Blaise Pascal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg" --- # The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion… ![“The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion uses force.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg) > “The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion uses force.” [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. Power governs societies, while ideas influence power through persuasion and coercion. **In simple terms:** Force rules, but ideas can wield force. Key Takeaway Recognize how ideas can be used to enforce power. Themes politics influence ethics Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - media narratives - legal debates Key Concepts social contract coercion Questions to Reflect On - In what ways do opinions become coercive? - How can we protect opinion from being weaponized? A Different Perspective Ideas alone cannot change structures without actionable force. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Force Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-opinion-4230438/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Ruled Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruled-force-910610/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Uses Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uses-force-1523671/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Ruled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-ruled-253793/) ## Related quotes > [In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from a chaotic world ruled by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-some-cases-the-measured-use-of-force-is-all-that-protects-us-from/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Force and not opinion is the queen of the world; but it is opinion that uses the force. \[Fr., La force est la reine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/force-and-not-opinion-is-the-queen-of-the-world-but-it-is-opinion/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/a-jedi-uses-the-force-for-knowledge-and-defense-never-for-attack/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [“The moral man does something, and when no one responds he rolls up his sleeves and uses force.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laotzu/the-moral-man-does-something-and-when-no-one-responds-he-rolls-up-his/) [Laotzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laotzu/) > [A government which uses force to maintain its rule teaches the oppressed to use force to oppose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-government-which-uses-force-to-maintain-its-rule-teaches-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [The world is ruled, and the destiny of civilization is established, by the human emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-world-is-ruled-and-the-destiny-of-civilization-is-established-by/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [If the world were ruled by women then there would be no war...just couple of nations not talking with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-bhat/if-the-world-were-ruled-by-women-then-there-would-be-no-war-just/) [Mohammed Bhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-bhat/) > [The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-world-is-ruled-by-letting-things-take-their-course-it-cannot-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Examine then, and see if He be not the dispenser of kingdoms, who is Lord at once of the world which is ruled, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/examine-then-and-see-if-he-be-not-the-dispenser-of-kingdoms-who-is/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Do you know, my son, with what little understanding the world is ruled?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-julius-iii/do-you-know-my-son-with-what-little-understanding-the-world-is-ruled/) [Pope Julius III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-julius-iii/) > [In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkman/in-a-world-ruled-by-the-dead-we-are-forced-to-finally-start-living/) [Robert Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkman/) > [This world is inescapably linked to the motions of the worlds above. All power in this world is ruled by these options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/this-world-is-inescapably-linked-to-the-motions-of-the-worlds-above/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [No matter how powerful, countries cannot rule the whole world. The world is ruled by brains, by justice, by morals and by fairness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdullah-of-saudi-arabia/no-matter-how-powerful-countries-cannot-rule-the-whole-world-the/) [Abdullah of Saudi Arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdullah-of-saudi-arabia/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) ## 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 Force quotes > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) [Browse all 10,458 Force quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion uses force.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Blaise Pascal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opinion-but-opinion-uses-force/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Force" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opinion-but-opinion-uses-force/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/blaise-pascal-167_force_the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opini_495409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world is ruled by force, not by opinion; but opinion uses force.” — 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": "The world is ruled by force,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opinion-but-opinion-uses-force/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-world-is-ruled-by-force-not-by-opinion-but-opinion-uses-force/#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 } } ] } ```