--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reason is, and ought only to be the slave…" description: "\"Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.\" — David Hume" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/david-hume-538_desire_reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave_1926624.jpg" --- # Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions. ![“Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/david-hume-538_desire_reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave_1926624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/david-hume-538_desire_reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave_1926624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/david-hume-538_desire_reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave_1926624.jpg) > “Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues reason should serve passions, not dominate them. **In simple terms:** Reason serves passions. Key Takeaway Let emotions guide rational thought. Themes philosophy emotion reason Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - creative work - personal relationships Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can passions be balanced with reason? - When should reason override emotion? A Different Perspective May lead to impulsive choices without checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Ought Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-slave-2791890/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-ought-334064/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-passions-334065/) ## Related quotes > [Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave-of-the-passions-and-can/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/reason-is-and-ought-only-to-be-the-slave-of-the-passions-and-can-2/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“Reason is and ought to be, as Hume said, the slave of the passions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/reason-is-and-ought-to-be-as-hume-said-the-slave-of-the-passions/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“You will find that reason, which always ought to direct mankind, seldom does; but that passions and weaknesses commonly usurp its seat, and rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-find-that-reason-which-always-ought-to-direct-mankind-seldom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One may gain political and social independence, but if one is a slave to his passions and desires, one cannot feel the pure joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/one-may-gain-political-and-social-independence-but-if-one-is-a-slave/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases—viz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/how-incongruous-and-irrational-the-common-temper-of-mankind-is/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Reason ought not, like vanity, to adorn herself with ancient parchments, and the display of a genealogical tree; more dignified in her proceedings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/reason-ought-not-like-vanity-to-adorn-herself-with-ancient-parchments/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider whether they argue against reason with or without reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-allen/those-who-invalidate-reason-ought-seriously-to-consider-whether-they/) [Ethan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-allen/) > [The natural mind is ever prone to reason, when we ought to believe; to be at work, when we ought to be quiet; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/the-natural-mind-is-ever-prone-to-reason-when-we-ought-to-believe-to/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [We must all learn to live together as brothers. 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