The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 29
Tout le malheur des hommes vient d’une seule chose, qui est de ne savoir pas demeurer en
repos dans une chambre.
All the misfortunes of men derive from one single thing, which is their inability to be at ease in
a room.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 139
Le nez de Clèopâtre: s’il eût ètè plus court, toute la face de la terre aurait changè.
Had Cleopatra’s nose been shorter, the whole face of the world would have changed.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 162
Le silence èternel de ces espaces infinis m’effraie.
The eternal silence of these infinite spaces [the heavens] terrifies me.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 206
Le dernier acte est sanglant, quelque belle que soit la comèdie en tout le reste.
The last act is bloody, however charming the rest of the play may be.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 210
On mourra seul.
We shall die alone.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 211
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.
The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 277
L’homme n’est qu’un roseau, le plus faible de la nature; mais c’est un roseau pensant.
Man is only a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 347
Le moi est haïssable.
The self is hateful.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 455
Console-toi, tu ne me chercherais pas si tu ne m’avais trouvè.
Comfort yourself, you would not seek me if you had not found me.
‘Pensèes’ (1670) no. 553
FEU. Dieu d’Abraham, Dieu d’Isaac, Dieu de Jacob, non des philosophes et savants. Certitude.
Certitude. Sentiment. Joie. Paix.
FIRE. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars.
Certainty. Certainty. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
On a paper, dated 23 November 1654, stitched into the lining of his coat and found after his death
4.19 Louis Pasteur 1822-95
Dans les champs de l’observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits prèparès.