Most of us, when all is said and done, like what we like and make up reasons for it afterwards.

Most of us, when all is said and done, like what we like and make up reasons for it afterwards.

He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; and he that dares not read more

He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; and he that dares not reason is a slave.

Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others, to persecute those who do reason.

Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others, to persecute those who do reason.

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.

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.

All is but a jest, all dust, all not worth two peason:
For why in man's matters is neither read more

All is but a jest, all dust, all not worth two peason:
For why in man's matters is neither rime nor reason.
[Lat., Omnia sunt risus, sunt pulvis, et omnia nil sunt:
Res hominum cunctae, nam ratione lies.]

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.

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.