Pensees

Blaise Pascal (1623-62) left his mark on mathematics, physics, religious controversy and literature. A convert to Jansenism, he engaged in passionate debate with the Jesuits the results of which are the Lettres Provincales, on which, with Pensées, his fame now rests. He is regarded by many as the greatest of French prose stylists.A J Krailsheimer was Tutor in French at Christ Church, Oxford and translated widely from the French.

• Pensees - Blaise Pascal Translated with a Revised Introduction by A. J. KrailsheimerIntroductionConcordance between the present edition and that of P. SellierSelect BibliographySection One: Papers Classified by Pascal (Pascal's Titles)I. OrderII. VanityIII. WretchednessIV. BoredomV. Causes and effectsVI. GreatnessVII. ContradictionsVIII. DiversionIX. PhilosophersX. The Sovereign GoodXI. APRXII. BeginningXIII. Submission and use of reasonXIV. Excellence of this means of proving GodXV. Transition from knowledge of man to knowledge of GodXVb. Nature is corruptXVI. Falseness of other religionsXVII. Make religion attractiveXVIII. FoundationsXIX. Figurative lawXX. RabbinismSection Two: Papers Not Classified by Pascal (Translator's Titles)I. VariousII. The WagerIII. Against indifferenceIV. Eternal judgment. Christ.V. Two essential truths of ChristianityVI. Advantages of Jewish peopleVII. Sincerity of Jewish peopleVIII. True Jews and true Christians have same religionIX. Particularity of Jewish peopleX. Perpetuity of Jewish peopleXI. Proofs of religionXII. PropheciesXIII. Particular propheciesXIV. DanielXV. Isaiah and Jeremiah: Latin textsXVI. PropheciesXVII. PropheciesXVIII. Prophecies: the Jews and ChristXIX. Figurative meaningsXX. Belief. Classical quotationsXXI. Two types of mindXXII. Mathematical and intuitive mindXXIII. VariousXXIV. VariousXXV. Human nature. Style. Jesuits etc.XXVI. Sources of errorXXVII. Diversion. Draft PrefacesXXVIII. Superiority of Christianity. Human behaviourXXIX. Relativity of human values. The Bible and its truthXXX. Habit and conversionXXXI. Figurative language in Bible. Human relationsSection Three: MiraclesXXXII. Opinion of Saint-CyranXXXIII. Rules for miraclesXXIV. Miracles for Port Royal against JesuitsSection Four: Fragments Not Found in the First CopyA. The MemorialB. Fragments in the Recueil OriginalThe Mystery of JesusC. Fragments from other sourcesSelf-loveSaying Attributed to PascalAdditional Pensées