GB 3: Reading Journal 3

    Blaise Pascal writes, “If Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, the whole face of the earth would have changed” (10). This singular quote encompasses a broad message that would be perfect on a bookworm’s t-shirt. The context behind this quote means that if one little thing changes, the entire universe changes. A modern example of this thought process can be linked to the concept of the butterfly effect. According to The Decision Lab, the butterfly effect is defined as “how a tiny change in one part of a system can cause a huge, non-linear effect somewhere else.” For instance, the flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause an earthquake completely on the other side of the world. The reason Pascal writes this thought is because he believes that if Cleopatra’s nose had been smaller, and therefore less attractive, men in great power such as Mark Antony and Caesar would not have fallen at her feet in ruin. Their weakness surrounding Cleopatra’s beauty causes the ruin of their great armies, meaning that the length of her nose affected the future of their empire. In summary, Pascal’s thought fits perfectly on a t-shirt because it contains a modern concept that dates back to the Enlightenment period.