A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.

A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.

Once the people begin to reason, all is lost

Once the people begin to reason, all is lost

Reason is the test of ridicule, not ridicule the test of truth.

Reason is the test of ridicule, not ridicule the test of truth.

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher read more

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.

I'll not listen to reason. . . . Reason always means what someone else has got to say.

I'll not listen to reason. . . . Reason always means what someone else has got to say.

To the people I forgot, you weren't on my mind for some reason and you probably don't deserve any thanks read more

To the people I forgot, you weren't on my mind for some reason and you probably don't deserve any thanks anyway.

Reason is a supple nymph, and slippery as a fish by nature. She had as leave give her kiss to read more

Reason is a supple nymph, and slippery as a fish by nature. She had as leave give her kiss to an absurdity any day, as to syllogistic truth. The absurdity may turn out truer.

Two angels guide
The path of man, both aged and yet young.
As angels are, ripening through read more

Two angels guide
The path of man, both aged and yet young.
As angels are, ripening through endless years,
On one he leans: some call her Memory,
And some Tradition; and her voice is sweet,
With deep mysterious accords: the other,
Floating above, holds down a lamp with streams
A light divine and searching on the earth,
Compelling eyes and footsteps. Memory yields,
Yet clings with loving check, and shines anew,
Reflecting all the rays of that bright lamp
Our angel Reason holds. We had not walked
But for Tradition; we walk evermore
To higher paths by brightening Reason's lamp.

Aristophanes turns Socrates into ridicule . . . as making the
worse appear the better reason.

Aristophanes turns Socrates into ridicule . . . as making the
worse appear the better reason.