ItmightseemthataboutBlaisePascal, andaboutthetwoworksonwhichhisfameisfounded, ; hismathematicalandphysicaldiscoverieshavebeentreatedmanytimes; hisreligioussentimentandhistheologicalviewshavebeendiscussedagainandagain; , , .
ThefactsofPascal’slife, sofarastheyarenecessaryforthisbriefintroductiontothePensées, , inAuvergne, , whowasabletoleave, whenhedied, asufficientpatrimonytohisonesonandhistwodaughters.In1631thefathermovedtoParis, , theelderPascalseemstohavemingledwithsomeofthebestsociety, , indeedexcessivelyprecocious, forhisapplicationtostudiesinchildhoodandadolescenceimpairedhishealth, , thoughnotincrediblestoriesarepreserved, ; heshowedfromhisearliestyearsthatdispositiontofindthingsoutforhimself, ; itmustonlyberememberedthathecountsasoneofthegreatestphysicistsandmathematiciansofalltime; andthathisdiscoveriesweremadeduringtheyearswhenmostscientistsarestillapprentices.
