--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The opposition of instinct and reason is…" description: "\"The opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent reason co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/bertrand-russell-69_agreement_the-opposition-of-instinct-and-reason-is_1614427.jpg" --- # The opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory… ![“The opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent reason confirms or confutes; but the confirmation, where it is possible, consists, in the last analysis, of agreement with other beliefs no less…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/bertrand-russell-69_agreement_the-opposition-of-instinct-and-reason-is_1614427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/bertrand-russell-69_agreement_the-opposition-of-instinct-and-reason-is_1614427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/bertrand-russell-69_agreement_the-opposition-of-instinct-and-reason-is_1614427.jpg) > “The opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent reason confirms or confutes; but the confirmation, where it is possible, consists, in the last analysis, of agreement with other beliefs no less instinctive. Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one. Even in the most purely logical realms, it is insight that first arrives at what is new.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human thought blends gut feeling with logical analysis; intuition sparks ideas, while reason evaluates and integrates them. **In simple terms:** Instinct sparks ideas, reason refines them. Key Takeaway Balance intuition with critical thinking. Themes cognition intuition reason philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - making decisions - scientific research - artistic creation - personal reflection Key Concepts Epistemology creative insight Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to trust intuition over analysis? - When does reason suppress creativity? A Different Perspective Reason alone cannot generate novelty without prior intuition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instinct intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-intuition/) [Intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“In their wild state, before the appearance of the white man among them, the principal complaints they were subject to were those produced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-their-wild-state-before-the-appearance-of-the-white-man-among-them/) [Ulysses S. 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