--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A rational man is guided by his thinking…" description: "\"A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.\" — Ayn Rand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg" --- # A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of… ![“A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.” quote by Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg) > “A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.” [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rational decisions arise from logical thought, not from fleeting emotions or desires. **In simple terms:** Think before feeling. Key Takeaway Prioritize reason over impulse. Themes reason rationality self‑interest Mood analytical determined Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business decisions - personal finance - conflict mediation Key Concepts philosophy cognitive psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - When have feelings guided you wisely? - How can you integrate emotion with reason? A Different Perspective Emotions provide valuable data and should not be ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Guided Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guided-thinking-2047086/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-man-1091548/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I am a rational man, but haven't you heard? i'm also insane. It gives me a unique perspective on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-am-a-rational-man-but-haven-t-you-heard-i-m-also-insane-it-gives-me/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“An irrational society is a society of moral cowards—of men paralyzed by the loss of moral standards, principles and goals. But since men have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/an-irrational-society-is-a-society-of-moral-cowards-of-men-paralyzed/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Since a rational man's ambition is unlimited, since his pursuit and achievement of values is a lifelong process - and the higher the values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-a-rational-man-s-ambition-is-unlimited-since-his-pursuit-and-2/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“A man’s “interests” depend on the kind of goals he chooses to pursue, his choice of goals depends on his desires, his desires depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-man-s-interests-depend-on-the-kind-of-goals-he-chooses-to-pursue/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A rational man knows-or makes it a point to discover-the source of his emotions, the basic premises from which they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-knows-or-makes-it-a-point-to-discover-the-source-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A rational man never distorts or corrupts his own standards and judgment in order to appeal to the irrationality, stupidity, or dishonesty of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-never-distorts-or-corrupts-his-own-standards-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right, he will learn; if I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-i-disagree-with-a-rational-man-i-let-reality-be-our-final/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Happiness is possible only to a rational man, the man who desires nothing but rational goals, seeks nothing but rational values and finds his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/happiness-is-possible-only-to-a-rational-man-the-man-who-desires/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Since a rational man's ambition is unlimited, since his pursuit and achievement of values is a life-long process — and the higher the values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-a-rational-man-s-ambition-is-unlimited-since-his-pursuit-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [No rational man, cognizant of the facts, believes that the average Negro is the equal, still less the superior, of the white man…it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/no-rational-man-cognizant-of-the-facts-believes-that-the-average/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [A rational man acting in the real world may be defined as one who decides where he will strike a balance between what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-rational-man-acting-in-the-real-world-may-be-defined-as-one-who/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The rational man finds that his share of the cost of the wastes he discharges into the commons is less than the cost of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-rational-man-finds-that-his-share-of-the-cost-of-the-wastes-he/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [“In the center of an irrational universe governed by an irrational Mind stands rational man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/in-the-center-of-an-irrational-universe-governed-by-an-irrational/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“The less rational a man is, the oftener he will fail to perceive how what injures others also injures him, because hatred or envy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-less-rational-a-man-is-the-oftener-he-will-fail-to-perceive-how/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-man-for-whom-accident-discovers-sense-is-not-a-rational-being-a-man/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Ayn Rand > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“This was reality, she thought, this sense of clear outlines, of purpose, of lightness, of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-was-reality-she-thought-this-sense-of-clear-outlines-of-purpose/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A “collective” mind does not exist. It is merely the sum of endless numbers of individual minds. If we have an endless number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-collective-mind-does-not-exist-it-is-merely-the-sum-of-endless/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She moved her hand and let it rest against his. He did not withdraw his fingers and he did not pretend indifference. She bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-moved-her-hand-and-let-it-rest-against-his-he-did-not-withdraw/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“There was still one response, the greatest, that she had missed. She thought: To find a feeling that would hold, as their sum, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-was-still-one-response-the-greatest-that-she-had-missed-she/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“We are fornicating in the sight of six billion people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-fornicating-in-the-sight-of-six-billion-people/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She was fifteen when it occurred to her for the first time that women did not run railroads and that people might object. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-was-fifteen-when-it-occurred-to-her-for-the-first-time-that-women/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Have you felt it too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you- except the things that count? And your most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/have-you-felt-it-too-have-you-seen-how-your-best-friends-love/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We are all brothers under the skin - and I, for one, would be willing to skin humanity to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-all-brothers-under-the-skin-and-i-for-one-would-be-willing-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) [Explore all 1,777 Ayn Rand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ayn Rand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking-by-a-process-of-reason-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking-by-a-process-of-reason-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/ayn-rand-59_desire_a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking_194549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.” — Ayn Rand", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ayn Rand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A rational man is guided by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking-by-a-process-of-reason-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking-by-a-process-of-reason-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```