Reason is God's crowning gift to man, and you are right To…
““Reason is God's crowning gift to man, and you are right To warn me against losing mine. I cannot say— I hope that I shall never want to say!— that you Have reasoned badly. Yet there are other men Who can reason, too; and their opinions might be helpful. You are not in a position to know everything That people say or do, or what they feel: Your temper terrifies them—everyone Will tell you only what you like to hear.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reason is a precious gift, but pride can blind us to others' insights and cause us to ignore dissenting voices.
In simple terms: Reason is valuable, yet pride blocks listening to others.
Key Takeaway
Balance confidence with humility.
Themes
pride
humility
reasoning
listening
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership decisions
- team meetings
- academic debates
- family discussions
Key Concepts
hubris
epistemic humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pride affect your judgment?
- When have you ignored a useful contrary opinion?
A Different Perspective
Pride may cause dismissal of useful criticism.