Our nature is motion. Total rest is death.

What it means

The same Pascal who praised sitting quietly saw that a living thing is always moving. Stillness of mind and stagnation of life are not the same. Keep moving.

The source

"Our nature is motion. Total rest is death." Pascal said it in Pensées 129 (Brunschvicg). Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.

"Notre nature est dans le mouvement; le repos entier est la mort."

Original French, Pensées 129 (Brunschvicg). Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Pascal (1623–1662). French mathematician and inventor who left his notes on the human condition unfinished. They were published after his death as the Pensées.

Questions

What does "Our nature is motion. Total rest is death." mean?

The same Pascal who praised sitting quietly saw that a living thing is always moving. Stillness of mind and stagnation of life are not the same. Keep moving.

Who said "Our nature is motion. Total rest is death."?

Pascal (1623–1662). Source: Pensées 129 (Brunschvicg).

What is the original French?

Notre nature est dans le mouvement; le repos entier est la mort. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Our nature is motion. Total rest is death." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Our nature is motion. Total rest is death." (Pascal, Pensées 129 (Brunschvicg), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/our-nature-is-motion-total-rest-is-death