A little science estranges men from God, but much science leads them back to Him.

This alleged quotation is attributed to Pasteur at least as early as 1952, in Miracles, by Morvan Lebesque. A similar quotation reportedly appeared in a Pittsburgh Observer letter, written by Monsignor Joseph Guillot about Pasteur, which was reprinted in "Note and Comment: Latest Evidence Regarding Pasteur’s Catholicity", in the February 7, 1920 issue of the magazine, America: A Catholic Review of the Week, but the author of the letter quotes Blaise Pascal as saying, "a little knowledge estranges one from God, whilst great knowledge brings one nearer to God." The letter author says that the Pascal quote applies to Pasteur. Neither the original letter author nor the America magazine author provides the source of the alleged, Pascal quote. It may be a paraphrase of Francis Bacon, in "On Atheism" in Essays (1597): "A little Philosophy inclineth Mans Minde to Atheisme; But depth in Philosophy, bringeth Mens Mindes about to Religion."