French scientist and religious philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was born on this day at Clermont-Ferrand, the son of the king's counselor.

"I maintain that, if everyone knew what others said about him, there would not be four friends in the world," he once said.

At 19, Pascal invented and sold the first digital calculator. Called the Pascaline, it resembled a mechanical calculator of the 1940's. Further studies led to his invention of the barometer, syringe, and hydraulic press. With Fermat he laid the foundation for the theory of probability.

After his conversion at age 31, Pascal shared the joy of his Christian belief in some of the most powerful words ever written. His most famous work in philosophy is Pensees, his examination of suffering and faith. Pascal's Wager claims to prove that belief in God is rational.

"If God does not exist," he argued, "one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing."

It makes sense to cover Pascal's bet... If we win, we win eternity. If we lose, we lose nothing.

Pascal once said that "man's greatness lies in his power of thought."  A genius, Pascal's meteoric life ended with cancer at 39, but his reflections about God and reason continue to touch the heart.

"Kind words do not cost much," he wrote, "yet they accomplish much."

More Blaise PASCAL Quotations

Let your imagination go.