An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.

An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.

All extremes does perfect reason flee,
And wishes to be wise quite soberly.
[Fr., La parfaite raison read more

All extremes does perfect reason flee,
And wishes to be wise quite soberly.
[Fr., La parfaite raison fuit toute extremite,
Et veut que l'on soit sage avec sobriete.]

You have ravished me away by a Power I cannot resist; and yet I
could resist till I saw read more

You have ravished me away by a Power I cannot resist; and yet I
could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I
endeavored often "to reason against the reasons of my Love."

Man has received direct from God only one instrument wherewith to know himself and to know his relation to the read more

Man has received direct from God only one instrument wherewith to know himself and to know his relation to the universe--he has no other--and that instrument is reason.

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.

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.

Reasons are not like garments, the worse for wearing.
- Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex,

Reasons are not like garments, the worse for wearing.
- Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex,

Eloquence may set fire to reason.

Eloquence may set fire to reason.

Reason itself is fallible, and this fallibility must find a place in our logic.

Reason itself is fallible, and this fallibility must find a place in our logic.