Pensées

American  

[pahn-seyz, pahn-, pahn-sey] / pɑnˈseɪz, pɑ̃-, pɑ̃ˈseɪ /

noun

1. a collection of notes, essays, etc., dealing with religious and philosophical matters by Blaise Pascal, published posthumously in 1670.

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Pensées Cultural  

1. A set of reflections on religion by Blaise Pascal (pensées is French for “thoughts”). This work contains the famous statement “The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.”

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Example Sentences

The machine was included in Christie's auction of the library of the late Catalonia collector Léon Parcé, which also featured Pascal's philosophical piece Pensées and the first printed version of "Pascal's wager".

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025

This story was originally published on Pascal’s Pensées and has been republished here with permission.

From Slate • Oct. 12, 2017

It is doubtful, however that this fragment should be included in the Pensées, and it has seemed best to separate it from the text.

From Pascal's Pensées by Pascal, Blaise

Bayle's peculiar vein of research and skill in discussion first appeared in his "Pensées sur la Comète."

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Disraeli, Isaac

The plan of what we call the Pensées formed itself about 1660.

From Pascal's Pensées by Pascal, Blaise