“Man is neither angel nor brute, and the unfortunate thing is that he who would act the angel acts the brute.”
Wisdom from Blaise Pascal
"Man is neither angel nor brute, and the unfortunate thing is that he who would act the angel acts the brute." - Blaise Pascal
- This quote from Blaise Pascal reflects on the complexity and duality within human nature. It suggests that individuals have the capacity for both good and evil actions, and sometimes those who strive to be virtuous end up acting in harmful ways instead. Pascal highlights the struggle and contradiction that exists within every person.
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Blaise Pascal, he is discussing the dual nature of man. Pascal argues that man is neither fully angelic nor completely brutish, but rather a combination of both. He suggests that those who strive to act like angels often end up behaving in a brutish manner. This notion highlights the complexity of human nature and the struggle to balance our higher ideals with our more base instincts. Pascal's observation serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in trying to navigate between these two extremes.
Striving for Virtue in a Complex World
Blaise Pascal's quote reminds us of the dual nature of humanity and the constant struggle between our better and worst selves. In a world where individuals often strive to be virtuous and compassionate, there are times when they may inadvertently exhibit behavior that is less than ideal. This quote serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of self-awareness and the continual effort required to act in accordance with our higher principles.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on this powerful quote by Blaise Pascal, consider the following questions:
- How do you interpret the idea that man is neither angel nor brute?
- In what ways have you witnessed individuals trying to act like angels but ultimately behaving like brutes?
- What does this quote suggest about the complexities of human nature and behavior?
- How can we strive to align our actions more closely with the qualities of an angel rather than a brute in our daily lives?
- Have you ever experienced a situation where you or someone else acted in a way that seemed contradictory to their intentions? How did it impact the outcome of the situation?
Similar quotes
“Man is neither angel nor beast, and unhappily whoever wants to act the angel, acts the beast.”
“It's not unfortunate that people aren't genuine; what's unfortunate is that insincere people try to act sincere and in doing so, mislead and deceive the other. I would rather meet a person who is not amiable and who does not feel any burden to act amiable towards me, than to have the misfortune of knowing people who feel like they need to be gracious and compassionate so they will appear to be good people, whilst possessing none of those qualities within themselves! It's the latter that causes the pain in life. And that's another reason why I don't believe in religion; I have observed that religion tells people that it is highly prized a quality to act kind and compassionate and so on and so forth, but some people just do not have these innate qualities within them! We get deceived, and I'd rather not be deceived! I'd rather be able to see a person for who he/she is and not judge a brute for being a brute, but avoid the brute who carries the burden of acting like a wonderful one!”
“A man may ask anything of a woman, but unless he wishes to behave like a brute, he must make it possible for her to act in harmony with her deepest self-deceptions.”
“Man is neither an angel nor a demon. Man is what his lover loves.”
“I am neither good, nor bad, neither angel nor devil, I am a man, I am a vampire.”