--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man for whom accident discovers sense…" description: "\"A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.\" — Francois de La ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_accidents_a-man-for-whom-accident-discovers-sense_1476712.png" --- # A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational… ![“A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_accidents_a-man-for-whom-accident-discovers-sense_1476712.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_accidents_a-man-for-whom-accident-discovers-sense_1476712.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_accidents_a-man-for-whom-accident-discovers-sense_1476712.png) > “A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accidents reveal meaning only to those who can understand, distinguish, and test it, not to the rational mind alone. **In simple terms:** Understanding comes from experience, not just reason. Key Takeaway Seek insight through experience, not just logic. Themes experience understanding reason Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - decision making - learning from mistakes - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy epistemology human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you test the meaning of an accident? - Can reason alone capture true insight? A Different Perspective Rational analysis alone may miss deeper truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Discovers Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovers-sense-5372018/) [Man Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-accident-678629/) [Man Understands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-understands-315191/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-man-1091548/) [Sense Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-rational-5372019/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [Man was an accident on this world or it would have been made better for him!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/man-was-an-accident-on-this-world-or-it-would-have-been-made-better/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [“Man is an accident who yearns for necessity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hems/man-is-an-accident-who-yearns-for-necessity/) [Nigel Hems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hems/) > [I am a rational man, but haven't you heard? i'm also insane. 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Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. 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