Thought constitutes the greatness of man. Man is a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed.

Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because by it we discover both God and our wretched state.

If we do not know ourselves to be full of pride, ambition, lust, weakness, misery, and injustice, we are indeed blind. And if, knowing this, we do not desire deliverance, what can we say of a man...?

The knowledge of God without that of man's misery causes pride. The knowledge of man's misery without that of God causes despair. The knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in Him we find both God and our misery.

Man is but a reed, the weakest in nature; but he is a thinking reed.

Man is but a reed, the most weak in nature, but he is a thinking reed

What is man in nature? Nothing in relation to the infinite, all in relation to nothing, a mean between nothing and everything