"Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was one of the leading scientists and mathematicians of his age," writes scholar J. M. Cohen in his introduction to Pascal's famous Pensées. "His work on the vacuum, on the mathematics of the cycloid, and on conic sections, led him to the solution of problems on which the best minds of his time were engaged. Furthermore, as a practical inventor he gave the world the calculating machine, and devised also the first public bus service, the first syringe, and the first wrist-watch."

Still, according to Cohen, "The central moment of his life was undoubtedly not that in which he proved the existence of the vacuum, but his vision of two hours' duration on the night of 23 November 1654, the record of which he carried ever afterwards, written on a parchment, around his neck:

The year of grace, 1654
Monday, 23rd November, Feast of St. Clement, Pope and Martyr,
And of others in the Martyrology
Vigil of St. Chrysogonus, Martyr, and others,
From about half past ten in the evening until half past twelve
FIRE
God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the
Philosophers and savants
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
My God and Thy God
'Thy God shall be my God'
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything except God
He is to be found only in the ways taught in the Gospel
Grandeur of the human soul
Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known
Thee
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy
I have fallen from Him
'They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters'
'My God, wilt Thou forsake me?'
May I not fall from Him for ever
This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only
True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
I have fallen away: I have fled from Him, denied Him, crucified Him
May I not fall from Him for ever.
We hold him only by the ways taught in the Gospel
Renunciation total and sweet
Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director
Eternally in joy for a day's exercise on earth
I will not forget Thy word. Amen."