Wednesday, September 3, 2014

"Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the want of contradiction a sign of truth."

     "Contradiction is a bad sign of truth; several things which are certain are contradicted; several things which are false pass without contradiction.  Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the want of contradiction a sign of truth."

     "Contradiction est une mauvaise marque de vérité.  Plusieurs choses certaines sont contredites; plusieurs fausses passent sans contradiction.  Ni la contradiction n’est marque de fausseté, ni l’incontradiction n’est marque de vérité."

     Blaise Pascal, Pensées nos. 384 (Brunschvicg) and 177 (Lafuma), trans. W. F. Trotter.
     Cf. no. 902 (Brunschvicg):  "'It must indeed be,' says Feuillant, 'that this is not so certain; for controversy indicates uncertainty'".

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