Quotes About Reasoning

For he who lives as passion directs will not hear argument that dissuades him, nor understand it if he does; and how can we persuade one in such a state to change his ways?

Further, the orator should be able to prove opposites, as in logical arguments;

rhetoric was to be surveyed from the standpoint of philosophy.

If we ought to philosophize we ought to philosophize, and if we ought not to philosophize we ought to philosophize ; in either case, therefore, we ought to philosophize. For if philosophy exists we ought certainly to philosophize, because philosophy exists ; and if it does not exist, even so we ought to examine why it does not exist, and in examining this we shall be philosophizing, because examination is what makes philosophy.

since we are most strongly convinced when we suppose anything to have been demonstrated; that rhetorical demonstration is an enthymeme

wherefore one who divines well in regard to the truth will also be able to divine well in regard to probabilities. It

not that we should do both (for one ought not to persuade people to do what is wrong), but that the real state of the case may not escape us, and that we ourselves may be able to counteract false arguments, if another makes an unfair use of them.

a man investigating principles cannot argue with one who denies their existence.

No es posible o no es fácil remover por medio de la razón lo que está profundamente arraigado en el carácter

And here we must not forget the difference between reasoning from principles, and reasoning to principles:

Art, then, as has been said, is a state concerned with making, involving a true course of reasoning, and lack of art on the contrary is a state concerned with making, involving a false course of reasoning; both are concerned with the variable

Among people lacking self-restraint, those apt to be impulsive40 are better than those who are in possession of an argument [logos] but do not abide by it. For

whenever a reasonable explanation comes to sight as to why a thing appears to be but is not true, this makes for greater trust in the truth.

You, calling yourself a reasonable man, are going about dependent for your happiness, dignity, and growth, upon a thousand things over which you have no control, and the most exquisitely organised machine for ensuring happiness, dignity, and growth, is rusting away inside you.

It's odd. Sol Invictus—he's such a contrast to the cool thinking of the theists.

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Homes

When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see.

I never guess. It is a shocking habit - destructive to the logical faculty.

Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to use all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment.

Never theorize before you have data.Invariably you end up twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts. -Sherlock holmes

From a drop of water," said the writer, "a logical man could understand oceans and waterfalls without having ever seen or heard of them.

No ghosts need apply. - Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire

The ideal reasoner would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also the results which would follow from it.