Man is only a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.

L'homme n'est qu'un roseau, le plus faible de la nature; mais c'est un roseau pensant.

Blaise Pascal

Pensées

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Topic

Man and nature Nature of man

Author

Blaise Pascal

Source

Pensées

Medium

Epigram

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1662 1660s 17th century

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pascal, Blaise. Pensées [Thoughts]. Paris: Chez G. Desprez, 1670, no. 347.

Current Citation

Pascal, Blaise. "Pensées." Pensées and Other Writings, edited by Anthony Levi, translated by Honor Levi. Oxford University Press, 2008, no. 347.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Blaise Pascal

The last act is bloody, no matter how happy the rest of the play.

Blaise Pascal

Pensées

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More information about this quote
Topic
Drama

Author

Blaise Pascal
Source
Pensées
Medium
Epigram
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1670 1670s 17th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Pascal, Blaise. Pensées [Thoughts]. Paris: Chez G. Desprez, 1670, no. 55.

Current Citation

Pascal, Blaise. "Pensées." Pensées and Other Writings, edited by Anthony Levi, translated by Honor Levi. Oxford University Press, 2008, no. 55.

Another quote from the 1660s

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

John Milton

Paradise Lost

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More information about this quote
Topic
Heaven and hell

Author

John Milton
Source
Paradise Lost
Medium
Poem
Genre
Epic poem Religious literature
Language
English
Time
1667 1660s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Samuel Simmons, 1667, bk. 1, I. 263.

Current Citation

"Paradise Lost." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008, I. 263.

Another quote about Nature of man

There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than man.

Sophocles

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of man Man and animals

Author

Sophocles
Source
Antigone
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragic play Greek theater
Language
Greek
Time
441 BC 440s 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Sophocles. "Antigone." The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone, translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Mariner Books, 2002.

Another quote originally in French

To laugh is proper to man.

Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel

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More information about this quote
Topic
Laughter

Author

Francois Rabelais
Source
Gargantua and Pantagruel
Medium
Novel
Genre
Satirical fiction Satire
Language
French
Time
1534 1530s 16th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Rabelais, Francois [published as Alcofribas Nasier]. Les horribles et épouvantables faits et prouesses du très renommé Pantagruel Roi des Dipsodes, fils du Grand Géant Gargantua [The Horrible and Terrifying Deeds and Words of the Very Renowned Pantagruel King of the Dipsodes, Son of the Great Giant Gargantua]. Vol. 1, 1532, bk. 1, prefatory note.

Current Citation

Rabelais, Francois. Gargantua & Pantagruel. Dover Publications, 2016, bk. 1, prefatory note.