Pierre Nicole facts for kids

Template:Infobox biography vcard Pierre Nicole (born October 19, 1625 – died November 16, 1695) was an important French writer and thinker. He was known for being a leading member of a religious group called the Jansenists.

Early Life and Education

Pierre Nicole was born in Chartres, France. His father was a lawyer and made sure Pierre received a good education.

In 1642, Pierre went to Paris to study theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. There, he became involved with the Jansenists at Port-Royal. His aunt, Marie des Anges Suireau, was even the head of the convent there for a short time.

Teaching at Port-Royal

Pierre Nicole taught at the "little school" for boys at Port-Royal. He taught Greek to a young boy named Jean Racine, who later became a famous poet.

Even though he was a deep religious scholar, Pierre Nicole never became a priest. He remained a "clerk in minor orders" because of his personal beliefs.

Working with the Jansenists

Pierre Nicole's main job was to help write and edit many of the books and papers published by the Jansenists. He worked closely with another important Jansenist, Antoine Arnauld.

The Provincial Letters

Pierre Nicole helped gather information for Pascal's famous book, Provincial Letters. This book was a series of letters that defended the Jansenists against their critics, especially the Jesuits. In 1658, Nicole translated these letters into Latin.

Port-Royal Logic

In 1662, Nicole co-wrote a very successful book called Port-Royal Logic with Antoine Arnauld. This book was about how to think clearly and logically. It combined ideas from Descartes with older ideas from Aristotle.

His Own Writings

In 1664, Pierre Nicole started writing his own series of letters called Les Imaginaires. He wanted to show that many of the bad ideas people thought Jansenists believed were actually just made up by their opponents.

When a poet named Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin attacked his letters, Nicole wrote another series called Les Visionnaires (1666). In these letters, he said that poets and playwrights were like "public poisoners." This comment upset his former student, Jean Racine, who wrote a strong reply.

Later Life and Works

Around this time, Nicole also got into a debate about transubstantiation (a religious belief about the Eucharist) with a Huguenot (French Protestant) named Claude. This led to a large book called La Perpétuité de la foi de l'Église catholique touchant l'eucharistie (1669), which he wrote with Antoine Arnauld.

Essais de morale

Pierre Nicole's most popular work was his Essais de morale (Essays on Morality). This was a series of short discussions about how to live a good Christian life. The first volume came out in 1671, and he continued to publish more volumes over time, totaling fourteen books.

Exile and Return

In 1679, the Jansenists faced more difficulties, and Nicole had to leave France. He went to Belgium with Antoine Arnauld. However, Nicole was older and not well, and he wanted to rest. Arnauld famously told him, "Rest, when you have eternity to rest in!"

In 1683, Nicole made peace with the authorities and was allowed to return to Paris. He continued to write until his death. He was working on a book against a new religious idea called Quietism when he passed away.

Legacy

Pierre Nicole was a well-liked person at Port-Royal. People often told stories about how he could be absent-minded in everyday conversation. However, his books were very organized and clear.

His writings, especially the Essais de morale, were very popular. Many people, including Mme de Sevigné, enjoyed them. Nicole was very good at explaining the Jansenist point of view to the public. Even though fourteen volumes on morality might seem like a lot today, his essays contain much wisdom and understanding of human nature.