,TOL/OY ,ON ,PASCAL 

#aif 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,NA?AN ,HASKELL ,DOLE 

,TEXT 3 

 ,NO ONE PASSION HOLDS M5 SO LONG 9 ITS P[]1 OR HIDES SO CONT9U\SLY1 SOMETIMES TO ! V]Y 5D1 ! VANITY ( TEMPORAL MUNDANE LIFE OR SO COMPLETELY KEEPS M5 FROM UND]/&+ ! SIGNIFICANCE ( HUMAN EXI/5CE & ( ITS REAL B5EFIC5CE1 AS ! PASSION = WORLDLY GLORY1 9 :ATEV] =M IT MAY MANIFE/ ITSELF 3 PETTY VANITY1 LOVE ( GLORY1 AMBITION4 

 ,EV]Y OV]WE5+ DESIRE 9VOLVES ITS [N PUNI%M5T1 & ! SUFF]+S ?AT ATT5D ITS SATISFACTION >E PRO( ( ITS WOR?LESSNESS4 ,MOREOV]1 EV]Y OV]WE5+ DESIRE GR[S FEEBLE ) ! PASSAGE ( TIME2 AMBITION1 H[EV]1 FL>ES UP MORE & MORE ) ! YE>S4 ,! MA9 ?+ IS ?AT SOLICITUDE = HUMAN GLORY IS ALWAYS C\PL$ ) ! ?\<T ( S]VICE TO M51 & A MAN :5 HE SEEKS ! APPROBATION ( O!RS1 IS EASILY DECEIVE 9TO ?9K+ ?AT HE IS LIV+ NOT = HIMSELF BUT = ! GOOD ( ?OSE :OSE APPROBATION HE SEEKS TO OBTA94 ,& !RE=E ?IS IS ! MO/ 9SIDI\S & DANG]\S ( PASSIONS & MORE DIFFICULT ?AN ALL O!RS TO EXT]M9ATE4 ,ONLY M5 ( GREAT SPIRITUAL P[]S DELIV] !MSELVES FROM ?IS PASSION4 

 ,GREAT SPIRITUAL P[]S GIVE !SE M5 ! POSSIBILITY ( QUICKLY ATTA9+ GREAT GLORY & !SE SPIRITUAL P[]S LIKEWISE GIVE !M ! POSSIBILITY ( RECOGNIZ+ ! NO?+NESS ( IT4 

 ,A MAN ( ?IS QUALITY WAS ,PASCAL4 ,SU* A MAN WAS ALSO \R [N ,RUSSIAN1 ,GOGOL4 ,I ?9K ?AT ?R\< ,GOGOL ,I CAME TO UND]/& ,PASCAL4 ,& EA* ( !M1 AL?\< SO 5TIRELY DIFF]5T 9 !IR *>ACT]I/ICS1 SO ABSOLUTELY DIFF]5T 9 !IR M5TAL MAKE-UP & CAPACITY1 W5T ?R\< EXACTLY ! SAME EXP]I5CE4 

 ,BO? V]Y RAPIDLY ATTA9$ ?AT GLORY :I* !Y PASSIONATELY DESIR$2 BO?1 HAV+ ONCE ATTA9$ IT1 IMM$IATELY REALIZ$ ALL ! WOR?LESSNESS ( :AT HAD SEEM$ TO !M ! HI<E/1 ! MO/ PRECI\S ADVANTAGE 9 ! WORLD1 & BO? ( !M W]E T]RIFI$ BY ?AT DELUSION 9 ! P[] ( :I* !Y HAD F\ND !MSELVES4 ,!Y EX]T$ ALL ! P[]S ( !IR S\LS 9 ORD] TO PROVE TO M5 ! COMPLETE HORROR ( ?AT DELUSION FROM :I* !Y HAD MANAG$ TO ESCAPE1 & PROPORTIONATE TO ! MAGNITUDE ( ! DIS5*ANTM5T SEEM$ TO !M ! NECESSITY ( SU* A PURPOSE1 ( SU* A DIRECTION ( LIFE1 AS ?AT NO?+ C\LD TRANSC5D IT4 

 ,BO? ,GOGOL & ,PASCAL F\ND ?IS 9 A PASSIONATE DEVOTION TO RELIGION2 9 ?IS TOO !Y F\ND A REASON = SCORN+ ALL ?AT !Y HAD HI!RTO ATTA9$1 = ALL ?AT !Y HAD DONE = ! SAKE ( GLORY4 ,WELL1 GLORY HAD COME TO !M & !RE WAS NO?+ 9 IT BUT DECEPTION1 CONSEQU5TLY :ATEV] HAD BE5 DONE = ITS ATTA9M5T HAD BE5 UNNECESS>Y & NUGATORY4 ,ONLY ONE ?+ WAS IMPORTANT 3 :AT ?AT WAS WAS OBSCUR$ BY WORLDLY DESIRES = GLORY4 ,! ONE IMPORTANT & NECESS>Y ?+ WAS ?AT FAI? :I* GIVES ! SIGNIFICANCE TO LIFE AS IT PROCE$S & A FIRM DIRECTION ( ALL ITS ACTIVITY4 ,& ?IS RECOGNITION ( ! NECESSITY ( FAI? & ( ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( LIV+ )\T IT SO OV]:ELMS SU* M5 ?AT !Y CAN NOT CEASE ROM M>VEL+ H[ !Y !MSELVES1 H[ PEOPLE 9 G5]AL CAN LIVE )\T ! FAI? :I* EXPLA9S = !M ! SIGNIFICANCE ( !IR LIVES & ( DEA? SO 9EVITABLY AWAIT+ !M4 ,& :5 !Y RECOGNIZE ?IS1 SU* M5 DIRECT ALL ! P[]S ( !IR 9TELLECTS & ( !IR S\LS TO SAVE M5 FROM ?IS HORRIBLE DELUSION1 FROM :I* !Y !MSELVES HAVE B>ELY ESCAP$1 & ( PROV+ TO !M ?AT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE )\T FAI?1 ?AT FAI? IS !IR ONLY SALVATION2 !Y /RIVE TO SNAT* FROM ! H&S ( M5 ?IS SCRE51 :I*1 AS ,PASCAL SAYS1 M5 HOLD BE=E !M :ILE !Y >E RUNN+ TO DE/RUCTION4 

 ,SU* A MAN WAS ,PASCAL & H]E9 CONSI/S HIS VA/1 HIS 9E/IMABLE & F>-REA*+ S]VICE4 

 ,PASCAL WAS BORN 9 ,CL]MONT 9 #a#f#b#c4 ,HIS FA!R WAS A WELL-KN[N MA!MATICIAN4 ,! BOY1 FROM HIS FIR/ Y\?1 LIKE ALL *ILDR51 AFT] HIS FA!R1 BECAME 9T]E/$ 9 MA!MATICS1 & DISPLAY$ UNUSUAL ABILITY4 ,HIS FA!R1 ANXI\S TO AVOID PRECOCI\S DEVELOPM5T 9 ! CILD1 GAVE HIM NO MA!MATICAL BOOKS2 BUT ! BOY1 LI/5+ TO ! CONS]VATIONS ( ! FA!R ) HIS LE>N$ FRI5DS BEGAN TO HIS [N 9C5TIVE TO DEVELOP A SY/EM ( GEOMETRY4 ,! FA!R1 REALIZ+ ?AT SU* A WORK WAS EXTRAORD9>Y 9 A *ILD1 WAS SO A/ONI%$ & 5RAPTUR$ ?AT HE WEPT FROM EMOTION1 & FROM ?AT MOM5T BEGAN TO 9/RUCT HIS SON 9 MA!MATICS4 

 ,! BOY WAS NOT ONLY QUICK TO TAKE 9 :AT HIS FA!R PUT BE=E HIM BUT ALSO W5T ON TO MAK+ 9DEP5D5T DISCOV]IES 9 ! DOMA9 ( MA!MATICS4 ,HIS A*IEVEM5TS ATTRACT$ ! ATT5TION NOT ONLY ( HIS NEI<BORS BUT ALSO ( S*OL>S2 & ,PASCAL1 :ILE /ILL V]Y Y\NG1 BECAME FAM\S AS A REM>KABLE MA!MATICIAN4 ,! 9CREAS+ FAME ( HIS S*OL>%IP1 SO MU* BEYOND HIS YE>S1 /IMULAT$ HIM TO TAKE P>T 9 AFFAIRES2 HIS VA/ ABILITIES AF=D$ HIM ! POSSIBILITY ( 9CREAS+ HIS FAME1 & ,PASCAL DEVOT$ ALL HIS TIME & /R5G? TO SCI5TIFIC MATT]S & 9VE/IGATIONS4 ,BUT FROM *ILDHOOD HIS HEAL? HAD BE5 FEEBLE4 ,MOREOV] HIS EV]-9CREAS+ LABORS /ILL FUR!R WEAK5$ HIM & :ILE /ILL A Y\NG MAN HE FELL S]I\SLY ILL4 ,AFT] HIS ILLNESS1 AT ! REQUE/ ( HIS FA!R1 HE RE/RICT$ HIS LABORS TO TWO H\RS A DAY1 :ILE ! RE/ ( HIS TIME WAS SP5T 9 READ+ PHILOSOPHICAL WRIT+S4 

 ,HE READ ,EPICTETUS1 ,DESC>TES & ! ,ESSAYS ( ,MONTAIGNE4 ,MONTAIGNE'S BOOK IMPRESS$ HIM 3 IT CONFIRM$ HIM 9 HIS SKEPTICISM & 9 HIS 9DIFF]5CE TO RELIGION4 ,PASCAL HAD ALWAYS BE5 RELIGI\SLY-9CL9E & AS A *ILD HAD BELIEV$ 9 ! ,CA?OLIC TEA*+ 9 :I* HE HAD BE5 TRA9$4 ,MONTAIGNE'S BOOK1 :ILE CAUS+ HIM TO D\BT1 /IMULAT$ HIM TO POND] OV] QUE/IONS ( BELIEF1 ESPECIALLY AS TO H[ F> FAI? WAS ESS5TIAL = ! 9TELLECTUAL LIFE ( MAN1 & HE BEGAN MORE ?AN EV] TO FULFILL HIS RELIGI\S DUTIES & :ILE /ILL READ+ PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS1 HE TOOK UP BOOKS ( A RELIGI\S *>ACT]4 ,AMONG ?OSE ( ?IS SORT HE CAME ACROSS ! TREATIES ( ! ,DUT* !OLOGIAN ,JANS51 0,REG5]ATION ( ! ,9N] ,MAN40 

 ,9 ?IS BOOK IT WAS >GU$ ?AT BESIDE C>NAL DESIRE1 !RE IS ALSO A S9FUL DSIRE ( ! S\L1 CONSI/+ 9 ! SATISFACTION ( HUMAN 9QUISITIV5ESS1 AT ! BASIS ( :I* LIES ! SAME ESS5CE AS IS F\ND 9 EV]Y DESIRE 3 EGOTISM & SELFI%NESS1 & ?AT SU* A SUBTLE DESIRE MORE ?AN ANY O!R SEP>ATES MAN FROM ,GOD4 ,?IS BOOK P[]FULLY AFFECT$ ,PASCAL4 ,) ! S9C]ITY *>ACT]I/IC ( GREAT M9DS1 HE FELT ! TRU? ( ?IS >GUM5T AS APPLI$ TO HIMSELF1 & AL?\< ! R5\NC+ ( HIS SCI5TIFIC OCCUPATIONS & ( ! FAME ?AT !Y W\LD BR+ HIM W]E = HIM A GREAT DEPRIVATION1 OR RA!R OR ! V]Y REASON ?AT !Y W]E A GREAT DEPRIVATION1 HE RESOLV$ TO CEASE HIS FASC9AT+ SCI5TIFIC OCCUPATIONS & TO EXP5D ALL HIS P[]S 9 SOLV+ = HIMSELF & = O!RS ?OSE QUE/IONS ( FAI? :I* MORE & MORE 9SI/5TLY PREOCCUPI$ HIM4 

 ,NO?+ IS DEF9ITIVELY KN[N AS TO ,PASCAL'S RELATIONS TO WOM5 OR AS TO ! 9FLU5CE ON HIS LIFE EX]T$ BY ! TEMPTATIONS ( WOMAN'S LOVE4 ,AS HE WROTE A SMALL WORK 5TITL$ ,DISC\RS SUR LES PASSIONS DE L'AM\R1 9 :I* HE SAYS ?AT ! GREATE/ HAPP9ESS V\*SAF$ TO MAN1 LOVE1 IS A PURE SPIRITUAL FEEL+ & \<T TO S]VE AS ! F\NTA9 ( ALL ! HI<E/ BLESS+S1 HIS BIOGRAPH]S ASSUME ?AT ,PASCAL 9 HIS Y\? WAS 5AMOR$ ( A WOMAN BELONG+ TO A SOCIAL /ATION SUP]IOR .<#a.> TO HIS & ?AT HIS LOVE WAS NOT RETURN$4 ,AT ALL EV5TS1 EV5 IF !RE W]E SU* A LOVE1 IT HAD NO CONSEQU5CES 9 ,PASCAL'S LIFE4 ,! *IEF 9T]E/S ( HIS Y\? W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 HIS ASPIRATIONS = SCI5TIFIC /UDIES & = ! FAME BR\<T TO HIM BY !M & ! REALIZATION ( ! EMPT9ESS1 ! FUTILITY ( !SE OCCUPATIONS & ! H>MFULNESS ( ! S$UCTIONS ( VANITY1 & ! DESIRE ( DEVOT+ ALL HIS P[]S TO ! S]VICE ( ,GOD ONLY4 

 ,SO1 EV5 AT ?IS P]IOD ( HIS LIFE1 :5 HE HAD DECID$ TO =SWE> SCI5TIFIC OCCUPATIONS1 HE HAPP5$ TO READ AB\T ,TORRICELLI'S 9VE/IGATIONS 9TO ! VACUUM4 ,FEEL+ ?AT ?IS PROBLEM WAS 9CORRECTLY DECID$ & ?AT A MORE ACCURATE DET]M9ATION ( IT MI<T BE OBTA9$1 ,PASCAL C\LD NOT RE/RA9 HIS DESIRE TO V]IFY !SE EXP]IM5TS4 ,HAV+ V]IFI$ !M HE MADE HIS FAM\S DISCOV]IES REG>D+ ! WEI<T ( ! ATMOSPH]E4 ,!SE DISCOV]IES ATTRACT$ TO HIM ! ATT5TION ( ! :OLE SCI5TIFIC WORLD4 ,HE RECEIV$ MANY LETT]S2 SAVANTS CAME TO VISIT HIM1 & HE WAS PRAIS$ TO ! SKIES4 ,& ! /RUGGLE ) ! TEMPTATIONS ( WORDLY GLORY BECAME MORE VIOL5T ?AN EV]4 

 ,TO ASSI/ HIM 9 ?IS /RUGGLE1 ,PASCAL WORE NEXT HIS BODY A BELT ) NAILS :I* TORE 9TO HIS FLE%1 & EV]Y TIME :5 IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT 9 HIS READ+ OR 9 HIS HE>+ EXPRESSIONS ( PRAISE1 OR VANITY1 AWOKE 9 HIM1 HE PRESS$ HIS ELB[ AGA9/ ! BELT SO ?AT ! NAILS MI<T /ICK 9TO HIS FLE% & REM9D HIM ( ! :OLE TRA9 ( ?\<TS & FEEL+S :I* HAD TURN$ HIM AWAY FROM ! TEMPTATION ( GLORY4 

 ,9 ! YE> #afea HE MET ) AN ACCID5T1 NOT APP>5TLY V]Y IMPORTANT 9 ITSELF1 BUT DE/9$ TO HAVE A GREAT 9FLU5CE ON HIS SPIRITUAL CONDITION4 ,ON ! BRIDGE ( ,NEUILLY HE FELT FROM HIS C>RIAGE & N>R[LY ESCAP$ DEA?4 ,AB\T ?IS SAME TIME HIS FA!R DI$4 ,?IS TWO-FOLD REM9D] ( DEA? 9FLU5C$ ,PASCAL EV5 MORE TO /UDY DEEPLY 9TO ! PROBLEMS ( LIFE & ( DEA?4 
 ,PASCAL'S LIFE BEAME MORE & MORE ABSORB$ 9 RELIGI\S OCCUPATIONS UNTIL1 9 #a#f#e#e1 HE 5TIRELY %UT HIMSELF (F ! WORLD4 ,HE JOIGN$ ! ,JANS5I/S 9 ! ,SOCIETY ( ,PORT-,ROYAL & BEGAN TO LIVE AN ALMO/ MONA/IC LIFE1 ?9K+ \T & PREP>+ HIS GREAT TREATISE1 9 :I* HE TRI$ TO PROVE1 FIR/1 ! ABSOLUTE NECESSITY ( RELIGION = ! REASON+ LIFE ( MANK9D1 &1 SECONDLY1 ! V]ITY ( ?AT RELIGION :I* HE HIMSELF PR(ESS$4 ,BUT EV5 H]E ! TEMPTATIONS ( HUMAN GLORY DID NOT LEAVE ,PASCAL 9 PEACE4 

 ,! ,JANS5I/ ,SOCIETY ( ,PORT-,ROYAL1 9 :I* ,PASCAL WAS LIV+ ATTRACT$ ! 5MITY ( ! P[]FUL ,JESUIT ORD]1 :OSE 9TRIGUES AVAIL$ TO CLOSE ! S*OOLS = M5 & WOM5 CONDUCT$ !RE1 & ! MONA/]Y ITSELF WAS ?REAT5$ BY ! DANG] ALSO ( BE+ SUPPRESS$4 

 ,RESID+ 9 ! MID/ ( ! ,JANS5I/S & %>+ !IR BELIEFS1 ,PASCAL C\LD NOT REMA9 9DIFF]5T TO ! SITUATION ( HIS CORELIGIONI/S1 & BE+ 9VOLV$ 9 ! CONTROV]SY ) ! ,JESUITS1 HE WROTE 9 DEF5SE ( ! ,JANS5I/S A BOOK 5TITL$ ,LETT]S TO A PROV9CIAL4 ,9 ?IS WORK ,PASCAL DID NOT SO MU* EXPLA9 & DEF5D ! TEA*+S ( ! ,JANS5I/S AS HE CRITICIZ$ !IR 5NEMIES1 ! ,JESUITS1 PROV+ ! 9CORRECT$NESS ( !IR DOCTR9ES4 ,?IS BOOK HAD AN 5ORM\S SUCCESS1 BUT ! FAME :I* IT OBTA9$ DID NOT DECEIV$ ,PASCAL4 

 ,HIS :OLE LIFE WAS NOT DEVOT$ TO ! S]VICE ( ,GOD4 

 ,HE DEVIS$ = HIMSELF RULES = ! CONDUCT ( HIS LIFE & /RICKLY FOL[$ !M1 NOT DEVIAT+ FROM !M EI!R ?R\< 9DOL5CE OR ?R\< ILLNESS4 ,POV]TY HE CONSID]$ ! BASIS ( VIRTUE4 0,NOT ONLY IS !RE NO EVIL01 HE SAID 09 OV]TY & 9 L[L9ESS1 BUT 9 !M LIES \R HAPP9ESS4 ,*RI/ WAS POOR & L[LY & HAD NO:]E TO LAY HIS HEAD40 ,PASCAL1 BY R5\NC+ EV]Y?+ POSSIBLE & R$UC+ HIMSELF TO POV]TY1 LIV$ ) ONLY :AT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESS>Y 4,HE DISP5S$ AS F> AS POSSIBLE ) S]VICE1 AVAIL+ HIMSELF ( HELP ONLY :5 ?R\< ILLNESS HE C\LD NOT MOVE4 ,HIS QU>T]S W]E ( ! S 
SIMPLE/ & SO W]E HIS TABLE & HIS DRESS4 ,HE TOOK C>E ( HIS [N ROOM & GOT HIS [N MEALS4 

 ,HE WAS 9 CON/ANTLY 9CREAS9 ILL HEAL? & HIS SUFF]+S NEV] CEAS$2 BUT HE 5DUR$ HIS SUFF]+S NOT ONLY ) PATI5CE BUT EV5 ) A JOY & HAPP9ESS AMAZ+ TO HIS 9TIMATES4 0,DO NOT PITY ME10 HE W\LD SAY TO ?OSE ?AT EXPRESS$ SYMPA?Y ) HIM1 0ILLNESS IS ! NATURAL CONDITION ( ! ,*RI/IAN1 BEAUSE 9 ?IS /ATE ! ,*RI/IAN IS SU* AS HE \<T ALWAYS TO BE4 ,IT ACCU/OMS HIM TO ! LACK ( ALL GOOD ?+S & TO S5SUAL PLEASURES1 IT ACU/OMS HIM TO REFRA9 FROM ! PASSIONS :I* BESET A MAN ALL HIS LIFE LONG1 TO BE )\T PRIDE1 )\T GRE$1 TO BE ALWAYS 9 ! EXPECTANCY ( DEA?40 

 ,! LUXURY ) :I* HIS LOV+ RELATIVES TRI$ TO SURR\ND HIM WAS BURD5SOME TO HIM4 ,HE BES\<T HIS SI/] TO PLACE HIM 9 A HOSPITAL = 9CURABLES 9 ORD$ ?AT HE MI<T ) !M LIVE \T ! LA/ DAYS ( HIS LIFE2 BUT HIS SI/] WAS UNWILL+ TO HE$ HIS REQUE/ & HE DI$ AT HOME4 

 ,BE=E HIS DEA? HE LAY = SOME H\RS UNCONSCI\S4 ,ONLY JU/ BE=E ! 5D HE LIFT$ HIMSELF UP FROM HIS C\* & ) A JOYFUL EXPRESSION SAID 3 0,DO NOT LEAVE ME ,LORD40 ,!SE W]E HIS LA/ WORDS4 

 ,HE DI$ ,AUGU/ #a#i1 #a#f#f#b4 

.- .- .- .- .- .- .- .- .- .- 

 ,MAN REQUIRES = HIS HAPP9ESS TWO BELIEFS 3 ONE1 ! BELIEF ?AT !RE IS AN EXPLANATION ( ! MEAN+ ( LIFE1 & ! O!R - ?AT HE CAN F9D 9 ?IS ! V]Y BE/ EXPLANATION ( LIFE4 

 ,PASCAL1 BETT] ?AN ANYONE ELSE1 ACCOMPLI%$ ! FIR/ ( !SE4 ,FATE - ,GOD - DID NOT GRANT HIM TO ACCOMPLI% ! SECOND4 

 ,LIKE A MAN :O IS DY+ ( ?IRT & PLUNGES 9TO ! WAT] LY+ BE=E HIM )\T 9VE/IGAT+ ITS QUALITIES1 SO ,PASCAL1 )\T )\T 9VE/IGAT+ ! *>ACT]I/ICS ( ?AT ,CA?OLICISM 9 :I* HE HAD BE5 $UCAT$1 SAW 9 IT ! TRU? & ! SALAVATION ( M54 ,SATISFI$ ?AT IT WAS WAT]1 SATISFI$ ?AT IT WAS ! FAI?6 

 ,IT /&S TO REASON ?AT NO ONE HAS ! RI<T TO SURMISE AS TO :AT MI<T HAVE BE51 BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PICTURE TO ONESELF A MAN ( G5IUS LIKE ,PASCAL JU/IFY+ HIMSELF 9 A BELIEF 9 ,CA?OLICISM4 ,HE DID NOT SUCCE$ 9 EXPOS+ IT TO ?AT M5TAL =CE :I* HE DIRECT$ T[>D ! PRO( ( ! NECESSITY ( FAI? & !RE=E 9 HIS S\L DOGMATIC ,CA?OLICISM REMA9$ COMPLETE4 ,)\T T\*+ IT HE LEAN$ ON IT4 ,HE WAS TORN ON ?AT :I* IT POSSESSES ( TRU?4 ,HE DREW FROM IT ! 9T5SIVE LABOR ( SELF-IMPROVEM5T1 ! /RUGGLE ) TEMPTATIONS1 HIS AV]SION TO RI*ES & HIS FIRM BELIEF 9 A M]CIFUL ,GOD1 TO :I* HE SURR5D]$ HIS S\L :5 HE CAME TO DIE4 

 ,HE DI$ HAV+ ACOMPLI%E ONLY ONE P>T ( HIS WORK1 )\T HAV+ COMPLET$1 )\T HAV+ EV5 BEGUN TO DO ! O!R1 ,BUT 9 SPITE ( ?IS SECOND P>T ( HIS LABORS NOT HAV+ BE5 ACCOMPLI%$1 NO LESS PRECI\S IS ! FIR/ 3 ! M>VEL\S BOOK ( ,P5SEES1 MADE UP FROM SCATT]$ FRAGM5TS ( PAP]1 ON :I* ! GREAT DY+ ,PASCAL JOTT$ D[N HIS ?\<TS4 

 ,WOND]FUL FATE ( ?IS BOOK6 

 ,A PROPHETIC BOOK APPE>S2 ! MULTITUDE /& 9 P]PLEXITY1 DUMBF\ND$ BY ! =CE ( ! PROPHETIC WORD2 AL>M$1 !Y WANT TO COMPREH5D1 TO HAVE IT EXPLA91 TO LE>N :AT TO DO4 

 ,& H]E COME ?OSE M51 :O1 AS ,PASCAL SAYS1 ?+ ?AT !Y KN[ & !RE=E TORM5T ! WORLD2 !SE M5 COME & SAY 3 0,H]E IT IS USELESS TO COMPREH5D1 TO EXPLA9 3 IT IS ALL V]Y SIMPLE4 ,?IS ,PASCAL 70IT WAS ! SAME ) ,GOGOL71 AS Y\ SEE1 BELIEV$ 9 ! ,TR9ITY1 9 ! ,HOLY ,COMMUNION2  IT IS PLA9 ?AT HE WAS A SICK1 ABNORMAL MAN2 & !RE=E 9 HIS WEAKNESS & SICKNESS1 HE MISUND]/OOD EV]Y?+4 ,A BETT] PRO( ( ?IS IS ?AT HE REPUDIAT$1 ABJUR$ EV5 ?AT GOOD :I* HE HAD ACCOMPLI%$ & :I* DELI<TS US 7BECAUSE WE UND]/& ?IS71 & LAID ! GREATE/ /RESS ON ABSOLUTELY USELESS 'MY/ICAL' RATIOC9ATIONS AB\T ! FATE ( MAN1 AB\T ! LIFE TO COME4 ,CONSEQU5TLY IT IS NECSS>Y TO TAKE FROM HIM NOT :AT HE HIMSELF CONSID]$ IMPORTANT1 BUT :AT WE CAN UND]/& & :AT PLEASES US40 

 ,& ! MULTITUDE REJOIC$2 BUT DID NOT COMPREH5D ?AT P[] WAS !Y NE$$ TO M\NT TO ?AT HEI<T TO :I* ,PASCAL WANT$ TO LIFT !M2 & H]E IT WAS P]FECTLY SIMPLE4 ,PASCAL DISCOV]$ ! LAW BY :I* PUMPS WORK4 ,PUMPS >E V]Y USEFUL & ?IS WAS AN EXCELL5T ?+2 BUT ALL ?AT HE SAID AB\T ,GOD1 AB\T IMMORTALITY1 ALL ?IS IS M]E EMPT9ESS1 BECAUSE HE BELIEV$ 9 ,GOD1 9 ! ,BIBLE4 ,EF=T IS NOT NE$$ BY US TO ATTA9 TO ?IS2 ON ! CONTR>Y WE CAN FROM ! HEI<T ( HIS ABNORMALITY ATRONIZ+LY & 9DULG5TLY ACKN[L$GE HIS S]VICE1 9 SPITE ( HIS ABNORMALITY6 

 ,PASCAL %[$ ?AT M5 )\T RELIGION >E EI!R ANIMALS OR MADM52 HE L$ !M BY ! NOSE 9TO !IR DE=MITY1 9TO !IR S5SELESSNESS1 HE PROV$ TO !M ?AT NO SCI5CE C\LD TAKE ! PLACE ( RELIGION4 ,BUT ,PASCAL BELIEV$ 9 ,GOD1 9 ! ,TR9ITY1 9 ! ,BIBLE1 & !RE=E IT WAS TO !M A SETTL$ FACT ?AT :AT HE SAID TO !M AB\T ! S5SELESSNESS ( !IR LIVES & AB\T ! VANITY ( SCI5CE WAS FALSE4 ,SCI5CE ITSELF1 ! SUBJECT ( LIFE ITSELF1 ?IS S5SELESSNESS ITSELF1 :I* SO IRRE/IBLY APPEAL$ TO !M1 ?IS V]Y SUBJECT1 ?IS V]Y SCI5CE1 ?IS V]Y S5SELESSNESS !Y CONSID]$ AS TRU?1 :ILE !Y CONSID]$ ,PASCAL'RESON+ TO BE ! FRUIT ( HIS SICK ABNORMALITY4 ,IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO !M TO UND]/& ! =CE ( ! ?\<T & ( ! WORD ( ?IS MAN & :ILE !Y NUMB]E HIM ) ! CLASSICS1 ! SUBJECT-MATT] ( HIS BOOK WAS NOT APPRECIAT$ BY !M4 

 ,YES1 NO?+ IS SO P]NICI\S1 SO DE/RUCTIVE TO ! TRUE PROGRESS ( HUMANITY AS !SE >GUM5TS1 ADROITELY ADORN$ ) EV]Y K9D ( CONTEMPOR>Y ORNAM5TS1 PUT =W>D BY M5 QUI CROY5T SAVOIR - :O ?9K !Y KN[1 & :O 9 ,PASCAL'S OP9ION B\LEV]S5T LE MONDE1 - UPSET ! WORLDS6 

  ,BUT ! LI<T %9ES EV5 9 ! D>KNESS & !RE >E M5 :O1 )\T %>+ ,PASCAL'S BELIEF 9 ,CA?OLICISM & YET COMPREH5D+ ?AT HE1 9 SPITE ( HIS MI<TY 9TELLECT1 MI<T BELIEVE 9 ,CA?OLICISM1 PREF]R+ TO BELIEVE 9 IT RA!R ?AN NOT TO BELIEVE 9 ANY?+1 UND]/ANT ! SIGNIFICANCE ( HIS M>VEL\S BOOK1 :I* IRRESI/IBLY PROVES TO M5 ! ESS5TIAL NECESSITY ( FAI?1 ?AT IS TO SAY1 ! /EADFA/ RELATION ( MAN TO ! WORLD & ITS ORIG94  

 ,& COMPREH5D+ ?IS M5 CAN NOT FAIL TO F9D ?AT ! QUE/IONS RAIS$ BY ,PASCAL WILL BE ANSW]$ BY FAI? 9 ACCORDANCE ) ! DEGREES ( !IR MORAL & 9TELLECTUAL DEVELOPM5T4 

 #a#i#f4 

#a4 ,*>LOTTE DE ,ROANNEZ1 SI/] ( ! DUC ( ,ROANNEZ1 ONE ( ,PASCAL'S MO/ 9TIMATE FRI5DS4 ,EXT& LETT]S FROM ,PASCAL TO ! Y\NG DU*ESS %[ NO TRACES ( S5TIM5TALY4 ,TR4 

,FROM 3 ,WIKIS\RCE4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aie 3 ,TOL/OY ,ON ,PASCAL -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JULY #a#g1 #bba 3 ,TOL/OY ,ON ,PASCAL -- ,ADD$4 
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