--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would warn against too much of a…" description: "\"I would warn against too much of a radical devotion to rationality. Rationality is an illusion, an invented concept, a construct from the mind of man. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/derek-r-audette-13963_concepts_i-would-warn-against-too-much-of-a-radic_1429420.jpg" --- # I would warn against too much of a radical devotion to… ![“I would warn against too much of a radical devotion to rationality. Rationality is an illusion, an invented concept, a construct from the mind of man. It is not a property of the universe. Rationality may be a useful tool when it suits our purposes, however, it is merely a measuring stick…” quote by Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/derek-r-audette-13963_concepts_i-would-warn-against-too-much-of-a-radic_1429420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/derek-r-audette-13963_concepts_i-would-warn-against-too-much-of-a-radic_1429420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/derek-r-audette-13963_concepts_i-would-warn-against-too-much-of-a-radic_1429420.jpg) > “I would warn against too much of a radical devotion to rationality. Rationality is an illusion, an invented concept, a construct from the mind of man. It is not a property of the universe. Rationality may be a useful tool when it suits our purposes, however, it is merely a measuring stick, calibrated against what we know of the nature of the universe - all of which may or may not be completely inaccurate.” [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rationality is a human-made tool, not an inherent cosmic law, useful but limited by our knowledge. **In simple terms:** Rationality is a useful but limited human construct. Key Takeaway Use rationality wisely, aware of its limits. Themes philosophy critical thinking epistemology Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - policy analysis - personal belief systems Key Concepts constructivism cognitive bias scientific method Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance rational analysis with intuition? - When might rationality hinder creativity? A Different Perspective Rationality can mislead when treated as absolute truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Measuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measuring/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality/) [Rationality Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality-illusion-5085217/) [Rationality Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality-rationality-2197388/) [Rationality Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality-useful-5085215/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Suits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suits/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-rationality-5085216/) ## Related quotes > [Faith is not a rational thing, and yet to understand the universe, rationality alone will not give it to us. 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Cartesian epistemology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-authority-of-science-promotes-and-encourages-the-activity-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The great majority of men use their own short-sighted ideas as a yardstick for measuring the divine omnipotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/the-great-majority-of-men-use-their-own-short-sighted-ideas-as-a/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [Perhaps measuring animal intelligence by comparing it to human intelligence isn't the best litmus test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/perhaps-measuring-animal-intelligence-by-comparing-it-to-human/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Time is a measure of space, just as a range-finder is a measure of space, but measuring locks us into the place we measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/time-is-a-measure-of-space-just-as-a-range-finder-is-a-measure-of/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [In my eyes, baking and pastry-making is like a science - all the measuring of quantities and temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/in-my-eyes-baking-and-pastry-making-is-like-a-science-all-the/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [Measuring life by what others do for us may disappoint us...But Measuring life by what we do for others will add more meaning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/measuring-life-by-what-others-do-for-us-may-disappoint-us-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/morality-without-religion-is-only-a-kind-of-dead-reckoning-an/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Learning to decipher words had only added to the pleasures of holding spines and turning pages, measuring the journey to the end with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowley/learning-to-decipher-words-had-only-added-to-the-pleasures-of-holding/) [John Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowley/) > [There's always the tendency to transform the Church into an ethical agency, and of measuring the Church by the yardstick of social and cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lehmann/there-s-always-the-tendency-to-transform-the-church-into-an-ethical/) [Karl Lehmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lehmann/) > [It is much easier to make measurements than to know exactly what you are measuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/it-is-much-easier-to-make-measurements-than-to-know-exactly-what-you/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [By measuring the proportion of children living with the same parents from birth and whether their parents report a good quality relationship we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/by-measuring-the-proportion-of-children-living-with-the-same-parents/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Derek R. Audette > [Sanity can take one of only two forms: that of ignorance, or denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/sanity-can-take-one-of-only-two-forms-that-of-ignorance-or-denial/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [If you're going to condemn a people based on the actions of the worst of its ranks; take a good look at the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/if-you-re-going-to-condemn-a-people-based-on-the-actions-of-the-worst/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [No matter how substandard you feel your skill or talent may be, If you never produce your art, the world will always remain deprived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/no-matter-how-substandard-you-feel-your-skill-or-talent-may-be-if-you/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [There has got to be a point that exists somewhere, when a rational person just has to shake his head and say: 'You know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/there-has-got-to-be-a-point-that-exists-somewhere-when-a-rational/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Abstraction is an exercise in a pre-assured failure. It is a futile attempt to communicate the non-communicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/abstraction-is-an-exercise-in-a-pre-assured-failure-it-is-a-futile/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Thoughts, words, ideas and information, free from any bonds or restrictions, is the very concrete which pours out a foundation strong enough that upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/thoughts-words-ideas-and-information-free-from-any-bonds-or/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [The question is not whether the good outweighs the bad. The question is whether or not the good excuses the bad. And, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-question-is-not-whether-the-good-outweighs-the-bad-the-question/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Without compassion, true gratitude is an impossibility. If we are to feel gratitude towards another for their deeds, then we must have compassion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/without-compassion-true-gratitude-is-an-impossibility-if-we-are-to/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Gratitude free of compassion is selfishness. It is nothing more than being happy for what has been done to benefit you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/gratitude-free-of-compassion-is-selfishness-it-is-nothing-more-than/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [One of the most distinguishing differences between liberals and conservatives in America is that the average Liberal feels that we should have little reservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/one-of-the-most-distinguishing-differences-between-liberals-and/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [In a world where God does not exist, any reasonable person must see that the propensity toward selfishness should be the most venerated of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/in-a-world-where-god-does-not-exist-any-reasonable-person-must-see/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Those who are offended by something are most often those who deserve to be offended by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/those-who-are-offended-by-something-are-most-often-those-who-deserve/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [If you want to know what true art is: Go outside on a clear night, wait until it gets very, very dark, then look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/if-you-want-to-know-what-true-art-is-go-outside-on-a-clear-night-wait/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [The nobility which exists within any cause is to be found not in any achievement, but instead within the struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-nobility-which-exists-within-any-cause-is-to-be-found-not-in-any/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [The universal methodology of the tyrant is always incrementalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-universal-methodology-of-the-tyrant-is-always-incrementalism/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) [Explore all 48 Derek R. Audette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) ## More Concepts quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. 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