Quotes About Rationality

Now it is quite true that when we examine our own system of beliefs we cannot imitate this attitude of complete detachment, since in the very act of examination some of these beliefs are assumed. But we can examine the beliefs of other people, and we do, as a matter of common-sense practice, rate low the value of the beliefs whose sources we perceive to be non-rational. How, then, can we refuse to apply to ourselves a principle of judgment which we thus apply without scruple to our neighbors?

In the meanwhile we must, I fear, suffer under a system of beliefs which is far short of rational perfection. But we need not acquiesce, and we should not be contented. Whether this state of affairs will ever be cured by the sudden flash of some great philosophic discovery is another matter.

A moral person is one who constantly exercises, and acts on, his best rational judgment.

Our institutions and values are in jeopardy as the mores of the market pervade all social life in this country. Loyalty, honesty, courage, discipline, patriotism, and commitment to family are being crowded out by the goals and rules of economic rationality -- do whatever makes the most money.

Dismissing without further investigation something that conflicts with what is already known is the very heart of rationality.

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

He alone is free who lives with free consent under the entire guidance of reason

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

Will and intellect are one and the same thing.

men, in so far as they live in obedience to reason necessarily do only such things as are necessarily good for human nature, and consequently for each individual man.

Those who are governed by reason desire nothing for themselves which they do not desire for the rest of humankind.

Il est contre le bon sens de mettre une enveloppe précieuse à des choses de néant ou de peu de valeur.

seulement la foi vraie et la raison qui nous conduisent à la connaissance du bien et du mal.

The mind has greater power over the emotions, and is less subject thereto, insofar as it understands all things to be necessary.

The law is reason, free from passion.

You cannot reason with delusion.

Faith... must be enforced by reason... when faith becomes blind it dies.

My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.

Law is mind without reason.

We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.

Hear reason, or she'll make you feel her.

All that is real is reasonable, and all that is reasonable is real.

Well, many insane people and seriously mentally ill people seem very reasonable.