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.]

The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.

The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that
his reason is weak.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that
his reason is weak.

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.]

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.

Nothing can be lasting when reason does not rule.
[Lat., Nihil potest esse diuturnum cui non subest ratio.]

Nothing can be lasting when reason does not rule.
[Lat., Nihil potest esse diuturnum cui non subest ratio.]

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.

We love without reason, and without reason we hate.
[Fr., On aime sans raison, et sans raison l'on hait.]

We love without reason, and without reason we hate.
[Fr., On aime sans raison, et sans raison l'on hait.]