715 – “La grandeur des actions humaines se mesure à l’inspiration qui les fait naître. Heureux celui qui porte en soi un Dieu, un idéal de la beauté et qui lui obéit: idéal de l’art, idéal de la science, idéal de la patrie, idéal des vertus de l’Évangile! Ce sont là les sources vives des grandes pensées et des grandes actions. Toutes s’éclairent des reflets de l’infini.”

“The greatness of human actions is measured by the inspiration that it brings. Blessed is he who carries within himself a God, an ideal of beauty and obeys it: an ideal of art, ideal of science, ideal of country, ideal virtues of the Gospel! These are the wellsprings of great thoughts and great actions. All reflections illuminate infinity.”

–Louis Pasteur

Quote Number:  235

Source: Pasteur, Louis. “Discours de réception de Louis Pasteur.” Speech at Academie Francaise, Paris, France. April 27, 1882. Academie Francaise. French Quote Online Here.

Source Notes: Note, I have not found the source of the English translation of this quote, so if you know it please leave a comment, thank you!

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