Communication Quote by Leo Strauss
““There is a remarkable sentence of Pascal according to which we know too little to be dogmatists and too much to be skeptics, which expresses beautifully what Plato conveys through his dialogues.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Thoughts on Machiavelli, 1978
Pascal’s paradox shows we know too little for certainty yet too much for doubt, echoing Plato’s dialectic.
In simple terms: We’re caught between certainty and doubt.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility in knowledge.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
skepticism
humility
dialectic
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal reflection
- teaching philosophy
Key Concepts
Pascal’s paradox
Plato’s dialogues
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this paradox mean for modern scientific claims?
- How can we balance confidence and doubt?
A Different Perspective
Risk of paralysis by over‑analysis.
![“[T]hough in all practical matters it is indispensable, either always or mostly, to follow custom, to do what is generally done, in theoretical matters it is simply untrue. In practical matters there is a right of the first occupant: what is established must be respected. In theoretical matters…” quote by Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/370/leo-strauss-12446_ad-populum-fallacy_t-hough-in-all-practical-matters-it-is-i_3141990.jpg)
![“The emancipation of the scholars and scientists from philosophy is according to [Nietzsche] only a part of the democratic movement, i.e. of the emancipation of the low from subordination to the high. ... The plebeian character of the contemporary scholar or scientist is due to the fact that he has…” quote by Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/76a/leo-strauss-12446_character_the-emancipation-of-the-scholars-and-sci_389563.jpg)
