Quotes About Reason

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it.

In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity.

When I had gone through the whole, and saw what a plain, simple, reasonable thing Christianity was, suited to all conditions and capacities; and in the morality of it now, with divine authority, established into a legible law, so far surpassing all that philosophy and human reason had attained to, or could possibly make effectual to all degrees of man kind; I was flattered to think it might be of some use in the world.

Every man carries about him a touchstone, if he will make use of it, to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings, truth from appearances. And indeed the use and benefit of this touchstone, which is natural reason, is spoiled and lost only by assuming prejudices, overweening presumption, and narrowing our minds.

A criminal who, having renounced reason ... hath, by the unjust violence and slaughter he hath committed upon one, declared war against all mankind, and therefore may be destroyed as a lion or tiger, one of those wild savage beasts with whom men can have no society nor security.

If to break loose from the bounds of reason, and to want that restraint of examination and judgment which keeps us from choosing or doing the worst, be liberty, true liberty, madmen and fools are the only freemen: but yet, I think, nobody would choose to be mad for the sake of such liberty, but he that is mad already.

Where danger shews it self, apprehension cannot, without stupidity, be wanting; where danger is, sense of danger should be; and so much fear as should keep us awake, and excite our attention, industry, and vigour; but not to disturb the calm use of our reason, nor hinder the execution of what that dictates.

What is a logical mind?... It is the antiseptic which destroys the bacilli of unreason whereby true happiness is vivified.

Thus, within Linnaean terminology, a female characteristic (the lactating mamma) ties humans to brutes, while a traditionally male characteristic (reason) marks our separateness.

Love is the sum of all the arts, as it is the reason for their existence.

No sé la razón de la sinrazón que a mi razón aqueja

Sense sends to Imagination before Reason have judged, & Reason sends over to Imagination before decree can be acted.

Man being reasonable must get drunk; The best of life is but intoxication; Glory, the grape, love, gold - in these are sunk - The hopes of all men and of every nation

If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.

Men, as well as women, are much oftener led by their hearts than by their understandings.

Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best.

Common sense is the best sense I know of

Immanuel Kant, autor subversivo en tiempos de sinrazón

The stars in the dark vault of sky were endless. Soft green and blue light with tinges of peach at the edges waved across it in silent curtains. The curtains of gods. "I think she's watching us from up there." Tears leaked silently down her face. And in that instant she was certain that from up there, everything must look like it had a plan. A reason. A pattern. She just couldn't see it from down here.

One of them is going to tell the judge for the same reason children always tattle to the teacher. For attention and a gold star.

Are you baiting me for a reason?" he asked casually. "Is that what I'm doing?" He smiled at her innocent tone, not fooled for a second. "It's that, or you're flirting with me.

Doroga thumped a finger against his skull. Head got nothing to do with the heart. Your heart wants what it wants. Head got to learn that it can only kill the heart or else get out of the way

Thomas said] I have my cell phone on me. Try to call before things start exploding. Maybe this time it'll be different. Maybe I'll work everything out through reason, diplomacy, dialogue, and mutual cooperation. Thomas eyed me. I tried to look wounded. It could happen.

Fear is bred from ignorance. So knowledge is a weapon against it, and reason is the tool of knowledge.