Q0445
“Man is visibly made to think; that is his whole dignity and…” — Blaise Pascal (Pensées)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Pensées. Theme: dignity.
English
Man is visibly made to think; that is his whole dignity and his whole merit.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Pensées 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
Kantian and rights-based ethics make dignity central; other traditions speak of face, honor, or Buddha-nature. Politics asks how institutions honor or violate dignity. This passage enters that discussion through dignity, humanity.
Concepts in this quote
- Dignity
- Dignity names the worth that persons claim simply as persons—and the respect that worth demands.
- Humanity
- Humanity names both the species and the moral quality of being humane—bridging anthropology and ethics.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Blaise Pascal. (n.d.). Man is visibly made to think; that is his whole dignity and his whole merit. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0445
MLA: Blaise Pascal. “Man is visibly made to think; that is….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0445.
Chicago: Blaise Pascal. “Man is visibly made to think; that is….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0445.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Man is visibly made to think; that is…”?
The passage is attributed to Blaise Pascal, Pensées. The archive attributes this English wording to Pensées 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 dignity?
Kantian and rights-based ethics make dignity central; other traditions speak of face, honor, or Buddha-nature. Politics asks how institutions honor or violate dignity. This passage enters that discussion through dignity, humanity.