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There is a virtuous fear, which is the effect of faith; and there is a vicious fear, which is the product of doubt. The former leads to hope, as relying on God, in whom we believe; the latter inclines to despair, as not relying on God, in whom we do not believe. Persons of the one character fear to lose God; persons of the other character fear to find Him.

— Blaise Pascal

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Fear

More quotes by Blaise Pascal

People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.

Christian piety annihilates the egotism of the heart; worldly politeness veils and represses it.

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it conscientiously.

Pensées (1669)

I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.

Force and not opinion is the queen of the world; but it is opinion that uses the force.

Pensées (1669)

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There is no governor anywhere; you are all absolutely free. There is no restraint that cannot be escaped.

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Most intellectual people do not believe in God, but they fear him just the same.

Wilhelm Reich Philosophy : An Introduction to the Art of Wondering (2005)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Blaise Pascal (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.