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.

Instinct is untaught ability

Instinct is untaught ability

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!

Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey "people." People say different things: so do instincts. Our read more

Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey "people." People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war.... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest....

'Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own,
Believe no evil, till the evil's done.
[Fr., read more

'Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own,
Believe no evil, till the evil's done.
[Fr., Nous n'ecoutons d'instincts que ceux qui sont les notres.
Et ne croyons le mal que quand il est venu.]

But honest instinct comes a volunteer; Sure never to o'er-shoot, but just to hit, While still too wide or short read more

But honest instinct comes a volunteer; Sure never to o'er-shoot, but just to hit, While still too wide or short in human wit.

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.

Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason

Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason

Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.

Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.