Justice and truth are too such subtle points that our tools are

Listen well, O children of wisdom, for the words of Blaise Pascal are filled with both humility and insight. He said, "Justice and truth are too such subtle points that our tools are too blunt to touch them accurately." These words, profound in their simplicity, remind us that truth and justice, though central to human existence, are elusive, and often lie just beyond the grasp of our understanding. Pascal calls our attention to the fact that our tools — whether they be our reason, our intellect, or our systems of measurement — are simply too crude, too imprecise, to fully capture the truths and ideals we seek to uphold. Even the most refined human efforts fall short when attempting to touch the heart of justice and truth.

What is truth, O seekers, if not the essence of all things? Truth is the light that guides us, the unchanging foundation on which all else is built. It reveals itself in moments of clarity, yet it remains hidden in many others. Justice, likewise, is the embodiment of fairness, of what is right, but it is not always clear, not always easy to grasp. Pascal speaks here of the fragility of our attempts to define or touch these ideals. The subtleties of both justice and truth are such that no human measure, no judgment, no calculation can fully encompass them. They are not simple commodities that can be weighed and measured, but profound forces that shape the very soul of humanity.

Consider, O children, the story of the ancient Greek philosophers, who spent their lives searching for truth and justice. Socrates, the greatest of these philosophers, devoted himself to questioning, to seeking the truth about the world and the nature of humanity. He understood that truth was not a simple concept, but a quest that required deep reflection, constant questioning, and an openness to the unknown. Socrates’ search for truth, though brilliant, did not provide clear answers to all of life's questions, for the tools of reason alone were insufficient to touch the full depth of the truth he sought. In his trial, Socrates was condemned not for the lack of his wisdom, but for the inability of his fellow Athenians to fully grasp the truth he spoke.

In the same way, the history of justice is filled with struggles to define it, to measure it, and to create systems that reflect its highest ideals. Even in the height of the Roman Empire, with its legal codes and systems of law, justice was often blurred by corruption, by the will of the powerful, and by the limitations of human understanding. The laws of Rome, though advanced for their time, could not always deliver true justice to the oppressed, to the slaves, or to the marginalized. Justice was often distorted, not because of the tools available, but because of the limitations of human nature, the inability to fully perceive the needs and rights of all people. Even the best systems of law and governance fall short when it comes to touching the heart of true justice, as Pascal so insightfully notes.

Think also of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century, where justice was struggled for in the face of deep-seated racism and systemic oppression. The ideal of justice — that all men and women are created equal — was clearly written in the nation's founding documents, but the tools of those in power were blunt. They were unable or unwilling to recognize the deep injustice done to Black Americans, and for many years, justice and truth were obscured by the cruelty of segregation and prejudice. It was only through the tireless efforts of individuals like Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke of a higher truth, and through the courage of countless others who stood for justice, that the nation began to confront the injustices it had long ignored. Even today, justice is still a work in progress, a reminder that our tools — legal, social, and moral — are not always sufficient to fully grasp the depth of the truth.

The lesson for us, O children, is profound. Pascal’s words call us to humility, reminding us that we do not have all the answers, and that justice and truth often lie beyond our grasp. But this does not mean we should abandon our efforts. Rather, it calls us to constantly refine our understanding, to seek truth and justice not as things we can possess, but as ideals we must constantly strive toward. We must acknowledge our limitations, yet we must also press forward, knowing that each step toward truth, each act of justice, brings us closer to the ideals we seek.

In your own life, seek truth not with the expectation that you will always grasp it clearly, but with the understanding that the search itself is meaningful. Act justly, not because you will always achieve perfect justice, but because the pursuit of justice is a noble and eternal endeavor. Refine your tools, whether they be your intellect, your empathy, or your actions, but understand that the perfect alignment with truth and justice may never fully be achieved — it is the pursuit that matters, the striving for something greater than ourselves.

Thus, O children, let Pascal's wisdom guide you, and let it remind you that though truth and justice may be subtle, though our tools may be blunt, the very pursuit of these ideals shapes the course of our lives and the destiny of our world. In this striving, you will find not only wisdom, but the light that guides the world toward a better tomorrow.