Thursday, June 12, 2008

Our desire for happiness drives us outside ourselves. So does the Gospel.

We are full of things which propel us outwards. Our instinct leads us to believe we must seek our happiness outside ourselves. Our passions pull us outwards even when objects to excite them are not there. External objects tempt us in themselves and beguile us even when we are not thinking about them. It is all very well for philosophers to say: 'Withdraw into yourselves, you will find your goodness there'; we do not believe them. Those who do are the most hollow and stupid of all.

What the stoics propose is so difficult and worthless.

Blaise Pascal, Pensées (176 & 177)

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