“To make a man a saint, grace is absolutely necessary; and whoever doubts this does not know what a saint is, nor what a man is. “The last act is always tragedy, whatever fine comedy there may have been in the rest of life—We must all die alone.” “There can only be two kinds of men: the righteous, who believe themselves sinners; and sinners, who believe themselves righteous. “Unbelievers are the most credulous; they believe the miracles of Vespasian to escape believing the miracles of Moses. “Atheists should speak only of things perfectly clear, but it is not perfectly clear that the soul is material. “Atheism indicates force of mind, but only up to a certain point.” Some of the foregoing Thoughts {174} may appear to our readers sufficient to warrant the charge of scepticism, already adverted to. Pascal certainly speaks at times both of human life and human reason in a contemptuous manner. Even Rochefoucauld could hardly express himself more bitterly than he does now and then when he fixes his clear gaze upon the folly, the vanity, the weaknesses which make up man’s customary life, and the deceits which he practises upon himself and his fellows. All the world seems to him at such times “in a state of delusion.” If there is truth, it “is not where men suppose it to be.” The majority are to be followed, not “because they have more reason, but because they have more force.” “The power of kings is founded on the reason and on the folly of the people, but chiefly on their folly. The greatest and most important thing in the world has weakness for its basis, and the basis is wonderfully secure, for there is nothing more certain than that people will be weak. . . . Our magistrates well understand this mystery. . . . Save for their crimson robes, ermine, palaces of justice, fleur-de-lis, they would never have duped the world. Where would the physician be without his ‘cassock and mule,’ and the theologian without his ‘square cap and flowing garments’? These vain adornments impress the imagination, and secure respect. We cannot look at an advocate in his gown and wig without a favourable impression of his abilities. The soldier alone needs no disguise, because he gains his authority by actual force, the others by grimace.”