There are two ways of persuading men of the truths of our…
““There are two ways of persuading men of the truths of our religion; one by the power of reason, the other by the authority of the speaker. We do not use the latter but the former. We do not say: 'You must believe that because Scripture, which says it, is divine,' but we say that it must be believed for such and such a reason. But these are feeble arguments, because reason can be bent in any direction.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reason alone cannot compel belief; authority is often used, but both are vulnerable to manipulation.
In simple terms: Reason is weak for convincing faith.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of rational persuasion.
Themes
faith
reason
authority
persuasion
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- debates
- religious teaching
- public speaking
- education
- dialogue
Key Concepts
Epistemology
theology
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance reason and tradition in belief?
- When is authority justified?
A Different Perspective
Reason can be twisted to support any claim, reducing its reliability.