--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are so presumptuous that we should…" description: "\"We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all over the world, even by people who will only come when we are no more. Such is our vanity th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/blaise-pascal-167_dozen_we-are-so-presumptuous-that-we-should-li_2012995.jpg" --- # We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all… ![“We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all over the world, even by people who will only come when we are no more. Such is our vanity that the good opinion of half a dozen of the people around us gives us pleasure and satisfaction.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/blaise-pascal-167_dozen_we-are-so-presumptuous-that-we-should-li_2012995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/blaise-pascal-167_dozen_we-are-so-presumptuous-that-we-should-li_2012995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/blaise-pascal-167_dozen_we-are-so-presumptuous-that-we-should-li_2012995.jpg) > “We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all over the world, even by people who will only come when we are no more. Such is our vanity that the good opinion of half a dozen of the people around us gives us pleasure and satisfaction.” [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. People crave fame and approval even from those who will only notice them after they are gone, and they find fleeting satisfaction in the limited praise of a few acquaintances. **In simple terms:** We seek lasting fame and validation from others, even after death, and feel satisfied by a few people's approval. Key Takeaway Value genuine impact over fleeting fame. Themes vanity recognition human nature ego social validation Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career ambition - social media presence - legacy planning - public speaking - artistic creation Key Concepts existentialism psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What lasting contributions can you make beyond personal recognition? - How does reliance on others' opinions affect your self-worth? A Different Perspective Fame is fleeting and dependent on others' perceptions, which can be unreliable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If you want others to have a good opinion of you, say nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-you-want-others-to-have-a-good-opinion-of-you-say-nothing/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I am vain. I think vanity is a good thing. It's done more good things for me than it has not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-am-vain-i-think-vanity-is-a-good-thing-it-s-done-more-good-things/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [“Despite what I said before, it had not been a fear of infecting other people or poor health that had stopped me from going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/despite-what-i-said-before-it-had-not-been-a-fear-of-infecting-other/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [By mortifying vanity we do ourselves no good. It is the want of interest in our life which produces it; by filling up that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/by-mortifying-vanity-we-do-ourselves-no-good-it-is-the-want-of/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [A brushstroke of vanity is good to add into the mix, to balance your timidity. We're all blessed with a lot of timidity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/a-brushstroke-of-vanity-is-good-to-add-into-the-mix-to-balance-your/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [We are so presumptuous that we wish to be known to all the world, even to those who come after us; and we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-are-so-presumptuous-that-we-wish-to-be-known-to-all-the-world-even/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/every-body-has-so-good-an-opinion-of-their-own-understanding-as-to/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [Maybe it’s that I find it hard to forgive the follies and vices of others, or their offenses against me. My good opinion, once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/maybe-it-s-that-i-find-it-hard-to-forgive-the-follies-and-vices-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Macro worries are like sports talk radio. 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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 Dozen quotes > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/saiman-picked-up-a-coffee-mug-stared-at-it-and-hurled-it-against-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I do remember what I said. The promise. 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We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-death-to-a-man-is-a-serious-thing-a-dozen-neutralize-one-another/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [My favourite song of Elton's is... it's a tricky one for me. I'm a proper fan and I've probably seen him in concert about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/my-favourite-song-of-elton-s-is-it-s-a-tricky-one-for-me-i-m-a-proper/) [Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I've talked to dozens of Chicagoans who will only go off the record in talking about the manufactured mythology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-ve-talked-to-dozens-of-chicagoans-who-will-only-go-off-the-record/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [Protecting dozens of major coastal cities from future flooding will be challenging enough-rebuilding major coastal cities destroyed by super-hurricanes will be an almost impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/protecting-dozens-of-major-coastal-cities-from-future-flooding-will/) [Joseph J. 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They covered everything from blood tests to ultrasounds, and I even had the option of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/while-i-was-pregnant-i-had-dozens-of-checkups-they-covered-everything/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) Browse all 974 Dozen quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are so presumptuous that we should like to be known all over the world, even by people who will only come when we are no more. 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