What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving read more

What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god.

This is our chief bane, that we live not according to the light
of reason, but after the fashion read more

This is our chief bane, that we live not according to the light
of reason, but after the fashion of others.
[Lat., Id nobis maxime nocet, quod non ad rationis lumen sed ad
similitudinem aliorum vivimus.]

Reason, however able, cool at best,
Cares not for service, or but serves when prest,
Stays till read more

Reason, however able, cool at best,
Cares not for service, or but serves when prest,
Stays till we call, and then not often near.

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.

"I can't" isn't a reason to give up, it's a reason to try harder

"I can't" isn't a reason to give up, it's a reason to try harder

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures
generally content themselves with the title.

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures
generally content themselves with the title.

I will it, I order it, let my will stand for a reason.
[Lat., Hoc volo, sic jubeo, sit read more

I will it, I order it, let my will stand for a reason.
[Lat., Hoc volo, sic jubeo, sit pro ratione voluntas.]

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.

Say first, of God above or man below,
What can we reason but from what we know?

Say first, of God above or man below,
What can we reason but from what we know?