--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a chimera then is man. What a…" description: "\"What a chimera then is man. What a novelty! What a monster... what a contradiction, what a prodigy\" — Blaise Pascal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/blaise-pascal-167_chimera_what-a-chimera-then-is-man-what-a-novelt_1115730.jpg" --- # What a chimera then is man. What a novelty! What a… ![“What a chimera then is man. What a novelty! What a monster... what a contradiction, what a prodigy” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/blaise-pascal-167_chimera_what-a-chimera-then-is-man-what-a-novelt_1115730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/blaise-pascal-167_chimera_what-a-chimera-then-is-man-what-a-novelt_1115730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/blaise-pascal-167_chimera_what-a-chimera-then-is-man-what-a-novelt_1115730.jpg) > “What a chimera then is man. What a novelty! What a monster... what a contradiction, what a prodigy” [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. Human nature is a paradox of greatness and frailty, capable of both wonder and terror. **In simple terms:** Man is both brilliant and contradictory. Key Takeaway Accept our dual nature. Themes human nature paradox potential Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative work - leadership - ethical decision making Key Concepts existentialism dualism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance your strengths and flaws? - What contradictions drive your creativity? A Different Perspective It may ignore the need for self‑care and humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chimera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimera/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelty/) [Prodigies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigies/) ## Related quotes > [“What a Chimera is man! What a novelty, a monster, a chaos, a contradiction, a prodigy! Judge of all things, an imbecile worm; depository…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/what-a-chimera-is-man-what-a-novelty-a-monster-a-chaos-a/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [What a chimaera then is man, what a novelty, what a monster, what chaos, what a subject of contradiction, what a prodigy! Judge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/what-a-chimaera-then-is-man-what-a-novelty-what-a-monster-what-chaos/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We listen with deep interest to what we hear, for to man novelty is ever charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/we-listen-with-deep-interest-to-what-we-hear-for-to-man-novelty-is/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The ancients of the ideal description, instead of trying to turn their impracticable chimeras, as does the modern dreamer, into social and political prodigies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-ancients-of-the-ideal-description-instead-of-trying-to-turn-their/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [It's not a matter of emancipating truth from every system of power (which would be a chimera, for truth is already power) but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/it-s-not-a-matter-of-emancipating-truth-from-every-system-of-power/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The Void is not being, but not being cannot be, ergo the Void cannot be. The reasoning was sound, because it denied the Void…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-void-is-not-being-but-not-being-cannot-be-ergo-the-void-cannot-be/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/the-soul-languishing-in-obscurity-contracts-a-kind-of-rust-or/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [For the first rate poet, nothing short of a Queen or a Chimera is adequate for the powers of his praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/for-the-first-rate-poet-nothing-short-of-a-queen-or-a-chimera-is/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Everyone knows that (1) happiness is the goal of life, and (2) happiness is a chimera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/everyone-knows-that-1-happiness-is-the-goal-of-life-and-2-happiness/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Good Samaritans: Truth, justice and the American way–for them it wasn't only a comic book code; it was a way of life. it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/good-samaritans-truth-justice-and-the-american-way-for-them-it-wasn-t/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [Language is the only chimera whose illusory power is endless, the inexhaustibility which keeps life from being impoverished. Let men learn to serve language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/language-is-the-only-chimera-whose-illusory-power-is-endless-the/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Without democracy freedom is a chimera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/without-democracy-freedom-is-a-chimera/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [Since there must be chimeras, why is not perfection the chimera of all men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/since-there-must-be-chimeras-why-is-not-perfection-the-chimera-of-all/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 A memory of yesterday's pleasures, a fear of tomorrow's dangers, a straw under my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/commemoration-of-pandita-mary-ramabai-translator-of-the-scriptures/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) ## 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 Chimera quotes > [Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 A memory of yesterday's pleasures, a fear of tomorrow's dangers, a straw under my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/commemoration-of-pandita-mary-ramabai-translator-of-the-scriptures/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Since there must be chimeras, why is not perfection the chimera of all men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/since-there-must-be-chimeras-why-is-not-perfection-the-chimera-of-all/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [Without democracy freedom is a chimera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/without-democracy-freedom-is-a-chimera/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Language is the only chimera whose illusory power is endless, the inexhaustibility which keeps life from being impoverished. Let men learn to serve language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/language-is-the-only-chimera-whose-illusory-power-is-endless-the/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“Good Samaritans: Truth, justice and the American way–for them it wasn't only a comic book code; it was a way of life. it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/good-samaritans-truth-justice-and-the-american-way-for-them-it-wasn-t/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [Everyone knows that (1) happiness is the goal of life, and (2) happiness is a chimera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/everyone-knows-that-1-happiness-is-the-goal-of-life-and-2-happiness/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [For the first rate poet, nothing short of a Queen or a Chimera is adequate for the powers of his praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/for-the-first-rate-poet-nothing-short-of-a-queen-or-a-chimera-is/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/the-soul-languishing-in-obscurity-contracts-a-kind-of-rust-or/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [The Void is not being, but not being cannot be, ergo the Void cannot be. The reasoning was sound, because it denied the Void…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-void-is-not-being-but-not-being-cannot-be-ergo-the-void-cannot-be/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [It's not a matter of emancipating truth from every system of power (which would be a chimera, for truth is already power) but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/it-s-not-a-matter-of-emancipating-truth-from-every-system-of-power/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [In whatever system where the weight attached to the wheel should be the cause of motion of the wheel, without any doubt the center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/in-whatever-system-where-the-weight-attached-to-the-wheel-should-be/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [I believed that I was approaching the end of my days without having tasted to the full any of the pleasures for which my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/i-believed-that-i-was-approaching-the-end-of-my-days-without-having/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Just as the blurring between childhood and adulthood has produced the kidult, so the stretching of middle into old age has fostered another peculiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/just-as-the-blurring-between-childhood-and-adulthood-has-produced-the/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument seems to have disappeared from the conservative handbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly-that-fine-tuning-the-economy/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) [Browse all 59 Chimera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What a chimera then is man. 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