The strength of a mans virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts. – Blaise Pascal
As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all. – Blaise Pascal
Thus so wretched is man that he would weary even without any cause for weariness… and so frivolous is he that, though full of a thousand reasons for weariness, the least thing, such as playing billiards or hitting a ball, is sufficient enough to amuse him. – Blaise Pascal
If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past and the future. – Blaise Pascal
Americas downgrade may serve as a wakeup call for its policymakers. It is an unambiguous and loud signal of the countrys eroding economic strength and global standing. It renders urgent the need to regain the initiative through better economic policymaking and more coherent governance. – Mohamed El-Erian