Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known read more

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.

I believe in instinct, not in reason. When reason is right, nine times out of ten it is impotent, and read more

I believe in instinct, not in reason. When reason is right, nine times out of ten it is impotent, and when it prevails, nine times out of ten it is wrong.

A fierce unrest seethes at the core
Of all existing things:
It was the eager wish to read more

A fierce unrest seethes at the core
Of all existing things:
It was the eager wish to soar
That gave the gods their wings.
. . . .
There throbs through all the worlds that are
This heart-beat not and strong,
And shaken systems, star by star,
Awake and glow in song.

The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason.

The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason.

Instinct is action taken in pursuance of a purpose, but without conscious perception of what the purpose is.

Instinct is action taken in pursuance of a purpose, but without conscious perception of what the purpose is.

A good man, through obscurest aspirations
Has still an instinct of the one true way.
[Ger., Ein read more

A good man, through obscurest aspirations
Has still an instinct of the one true way.
[Ger., Ein guter Mensch, in seinem dunkeln Drange,
Ist sich des rechten Weges sohl bewusst.]

How instinct varies in the grov'lling swine,
Compar'd, half-reasoning elephant, with thine!
'Twixt that and reason what read more

How instinct varies in the grov'lling swine,
Compar'd, half-reasoning elephant, with thine!
'Twixt that and reason what a nice barrier!
Forever sep'rate, yet forever near!

The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying read more

The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, they finish by loading honors on your head.

As the traveler who has lost his way, throws his reins on his horse's neck, and trusts to the instinct read more

As the traveler who has lost his way, throws his reins on his horse's neck, and trusts to the instinct of the animal to find his road, so must we do with the divine animal who carries us through this world