Q0392
“All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing: not knowing how to…” — Blaise Pascal (Pensées (common numbering))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Pensées (common numbering). Theme: life.
English
All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing: not knowing how to remain quietly in a room.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Pensées (common numbering) and files it under Christian Existential Precursor. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and Christian apologist who invented an early calculator and advanced probability and fluid mechanics. After a decisive religious conversion, he defended Jansenism in the Provincial Letters and left unfinished Pensées.
How to read this passage
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.
Concepts in this quote
- Life
- Philosophy quotes about life ask what makes a life good, meaningful, or worth examining—questions that drive ethics, religion, and everyday decision.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Blaise Pascal. (n.d.). All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing: not knowing how to remain quietly in a room. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0392
MLA: Blaise Pascal. “All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing:….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0392.
Chicago: Blaise Pascal. “All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing:….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0392.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “All of humanity’s misfortune comes from one thing:…”?
The passage is attributed to Blaise Pascal, Pensées (common numbering). The archive attributes this English wording to Pensées (common numbering) and files it under Christian Existential Precursor. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Blaise Pascal mean by life?
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.