Keith Devlin, The Unfinished Game, Pascal, Fermat, and the Seventeen-Century Letter that Made the World Modern, A tale of How Mathematics Is Really Done. Basic Books.  

Again, as it is thus demonstrable that there are, in the constitution of things, certain Laws according to which Events happen, it is no less evident from Observation, that those Laws serve to wise, useful and beneficent purposes; to preserve the steadfast Order of the Universe, to propagate the several Species of Beings, and furnish to the sentient Kind such degrees of happiness as are suited to their State. But such Laws, as well as the original Design and Purpose of their Establishment, must all be from without; the Inertia of matter, and the nature of all created Beings, rendering it impossible that any thing should modify its own essence, or give to itself, or to any thing else, an original determination or propensity. And hence, if we blind not ourselves with metaphysical dust, we shall be led, by a short and obvious way, to the acknowledgment of the great Maker and Governour of all; Himself all-wise, all-powerful and good.  

You will run the risk of seeing me at your house and of thus having two ill people there at once.  

if I were in good health, I would have flown to Toulouse and I would not allow a man such as you to take one step for a man such as myself.