Quotes About Rationality

Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy the mad daughter of a wise mother. These daughters have too long dominated the earth.

My mother wasn't rational those last years; if she had been, she would have been horrified by her own behavior.

If you go in for argument take care of your temper. Your logic if you have any will take care of itself.

If we were rational enough to judge what we are fed based on what we are fed, those in the business of selling us hope (i.e., public speakers, presidents, priests, etc.) wouldn't wear suits.

Whatsoever is contrary to nature is contrary to reason, and whatsoever is contrary to reason is absurd.

Individualism regards man-every man-as an independent, sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived from his nature as a rational being.

The man who has sufficient power over himself to wait until his nature has recovered its even balance is the truly wise man, but such beings are seldom met with.

The creative scientist studies nature with the rapt gaze of the lover, and is guided as often by aesthetics as by rational considerations in guessing how nature works.

Philosophy ought to be able to give an account of rationality that is not wholly detached from science's account of nature, even if it is not straightforwardly reducible to it.

It is in the nature of foolish reasonings to seem good to the foolish reasoner.

Nature was tough, it could be dangerous, but unlike Dr. Cable or shay, or peris-unlike people in general-it made sense. The problems it threw at you could be solved rationally.

How it chanced that a man who reasoned on his premises so ably, should assume his premises so foolishly, is one of the great mysteries of human nature.

The people naturally adhere most to doctrines which demand the least self-exertion and the least use of their own reason, and which can best accommodate their duties to their inclinations.

Logic can be patient, for it is eternal.

No nation can truly develop unless fanaticism, primitive superstitions and metaphysical non-sense are eradicated.

No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.

Everything must justify its existence before the judgment seat of Reason, or give up existence.

The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.

Superstition sets the whole world in flames, but philosophy douses them.

Greek philosophy departs from the assumption that we can understand the world autonomously using our rational faculties. Islam is not saying this.

What is rational is actual and what is actual is rational

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

Philosophy is common sense with big words.

Atheism is a disease of the mind caused by eating underdone philosophy