Proof of quote...?

Question

“few friendships would endure if each knew what his friend said of him in his absence” Pascal.
An example from news, history, or literature...
I understand what the quote means, by the way.

Answer 1

I am uncertain what you are asking: "Proof of quote"? do you ask if Pascal's words are true? or do you want proof he said such, perhaps in what context?

Basically Pascal in the entire passage from "Misery of Man Without Good" circa 1600 is detailing what he sees as the nature of man, say three hundred years before Freud.

To paraphrase: society is as it is as to cover up our faults, men do not want to know the truth as self love prevents it and do not tell the truth because self interest is against it. Farrell - 2006

Pascal would make a worldly virtue of hypocrisy by observing cynically that, since they are “founded on mutual deceit Bouwsma - 2002


The best examples are;

Emperor's New Clothes
& such as
Nero, Caligula. Hitler

Today we have corporate "yes men" to use the 50's 60's phrase.

The quote is not per se a "relationship" quote but on society, from 1600, but that movie with jack nickolson where he says "you can't handle the truth" is close. Pascal placed the issue to the successful, ruling class, etc. Pascal was perhaps making hypocracy the keystone of society.

The quote has not as I can see become widely used on those "quote" websites, but did find one newspaper application.

San Mateo Times (Newspaper) - March 8, 1973, San Mateo, California
Pascal is only one of the friendship-watchers to have noted that few friendships would endure if one heard all of what one's friends said behind one's back.

Answer 2

Visit this website, perhaps, it can help you.
SOTU and reasoning | TPMCafe
... and become obsessed with the meaningless politics, back-biting and back stabbing. ... out to say that these were just examples not real policy goals. ...www.tpmcafe.com/story/2006/2/4/82846/13091

Answer 3

hilton vs richie