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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.
But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear
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But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest counsels.
Reason can in general do more than blind force.
Reason can in general do more than blind force.
A noble heart will always capitulate to reason.
A noble heart will always capitulate 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.
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,
To give a reason for anything is to breed a doubt of it.
To give a reason for anything is to breed a doubt of it.
Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.
Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.
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.
