145. One thought alone occupies us; we cannot think of two
things at the same time. This is lucky for us according to the
world, not according to God.

    146. Man is obviously made to think. It is his whole dignity and
his whole merit; and his whole duty is to think as he ought. Now,
the order of thought is to begin with self, and with its Author and
its end.

    Now, of what does the world think? Never of this, but of
dancing, playing the lute, singing, making verses, running at the
ring, etc., fighting, making oneself king, without thinking what it is
to be a king and what to be a man.

    147. We do not content ourselves with the life we have in
ourselves and in our own being; we desire to live an imaginary life in
the mind of others, and for this purpose we endeavour to shine. We
labour unceasingly to adorn and preserve this imaginary existence
and neglect the real. And if we possess calmness, or generosity, or
truthfulness, we are eager to make it known, so as to attach these
virtues to that imaginary existence. We would rather separate them
from ourselves to join them to it; and we would willingly be cowards
in order to acquire the reputation of being brave. A great proof of
the nothingness of our being, not to be satisfied with the one without
the other, and to renounce the one for the other! For he would be
infamous who would not die to preserve his honour.

    148. We are so presumptuous that we would wish to be known by
all the world, even by people who shall come after, when we shall be
no more; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six
neighbours delights and contents us.

    149. We do not trouble ourselves about being esteemed in the towns
through which we pass. But if we are to remain a little while there,
we are so concerned. How long is necessary? A time commensurate with
our vain and paltry life.

    150. Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a
soldier's servant, a cook, a porter brags and wishes to have his
admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against
it want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read
it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps
this desire, and perhaps those who will read it...

    151. Glory.- Admiration spoils all from infancy. Ah! How well
said! Ah! How well done! How well-behaved he is! etc.

    The children of Port-Royal, who do not receive this stimulus of
envy and glory, fall into carelessness.

    152. Pride.- Curiosity is only vanity. Most frequently we wish
to know but to talk. Otherwise we would not take a sea voyage in order
never to talk of it, and for the sole pleasure of seeing without
hope of ever communicating it.

    153. Of the desire of being esteemed by those with whom we are.-
Pride takes such natural possession of us in the midst of our woes,
errors, etc. We even lose our life with joy, provided people talk of
it.

    Vanity: play, hunting, visiting, false shame, a lasting name.

    154. I have no friends to your advantage.

    155. A true friend is so great an advantage, even for the greatest
lords, in order that he may speak well of them and back them in
their absence, that they should do all to have one. But they should
choose well; for, if they spend all their efforts in the interests
of fools, it will be of no use, however well these may speak of
them; and these will not even speak well of them if they find
themselves on the weakest side, for they have no influence; and thus
they will speak ill of them in company.

    156. Ferox gens, nullam esse vitam sine armis rati.* - They prefer
death to peace; others prefer death to war.

    * Livy, xxxiv. 17. "A brutal people, for whom, when they have
not armour, there is not life."

    Every opinion may be held preferable to life, the love of which is
so strong and so natural.

    157. Contradiction: contempt for our existence, to die for
nothing, hatred of our existence.

    158. Pursuits.- The charm of fame is so great that we like every
object to which it is attached, even death.

    159. Noble deeds are most estimable when hidden. When I see some
of these in history, they please me greatly. But after all they have
not been quite hidden, since they have been known; and though people
have done what they could to hide them, the little publication of them
spoils all, for what was best in them was the wish to hide them.

    160. Sneezing absorbs all the functions of the soul, as well as
work does; but we do not draw therefrom the same conclusions against
the greatness of man, because it is against his will. And although
we bring it on ourselves, it is nevertheless against our will that
we sneeze. It is not in view of the act itself; it is for another end.
And thus it is not a proof of the weakness of man and of his slavery