--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You see, gentlemen, reason is an…" description: "\"You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png" --- # You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s… ![“You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man’s nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life including reason and all the impulses. And although…” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png) > “You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man’s nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life including reason and all the impulses. And although our life, in this manifestation of it, is often worthless, yet it is life and not simply extracting square roots.” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason addresses only the rational part of humanity, while will engages the whole lived experience, including impulses and emotions. **In simple terms:** Reason is rational; will is whole life Key Takeaway Balance intellect with will Themes philosophy human nature willpower Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - decision making - creative work Key Concepts Existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate emotion with logic? - What role does will play in your purpose? A Different Perspective Reason alone cannot capture life's fullness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Including Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including-reason-3265832/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-man-1091548/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-reason/) [Reason Satisfies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-satisfies-3554869/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Square roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/square-roots/) [Squares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squares/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) ## Related quotes > [“You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there's no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent-thing-there-s-no-disputing-2/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Don't you see, gentlemen? Reason is a fine thing, there's no question about it, but reason is only reason and only satisfies man's rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dostoyevsky-fyodor-2/don-t-you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-a-fine-thing-there-s-no-question/) [Dostoyevsky Fyodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dostoyevsky-fyodor-2/) > [“The problem with open minds is that everything falls out—including our reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-m-hood/the-problem-with-open-minds-is-that-everything-falls-out-including/) [Bruce M. Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-m-hood/) > [It is hard to fight against anger: to master it is the mark of a rational man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/it-is-hard-to-fight-against-anger-to-master-it-is-the-mark-of-a/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [A rational man is guided by his thinking - by a process of Reason - not by his feelings and desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-rational-man-is-guided-by-his-thinking-by-a-process-of-reason-not/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoevsky > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [... you are a man still young, so to say, in your first youth and so put intellect above everything ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-are-a-man-still-young-so-to-say-in-your-first-youth-and-so-put/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-is-only-one-salvation-for-you-take-yourself-up-and-make/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“It is true I am a complete stranger to these people, but they are not strangers to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/it-is-true-i-am-a-complete-stranger-to-these-people-but-they-are-not/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Everything seems stupid when it fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/everything-seems-stupid-when-it-fails/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-to-throw-yourself-on-the-earth-and-kiss-it-kiss-the-earth-and/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Be the sun and all will see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/be-the-sun-and-all-will-see-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-you-are-penitent-you-love-and-if-you-love-you-are-of-god-all/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“To kill for murder is a punishment incomparably worse than the crime itself. Murder by legal sentence is immeasurably more terrible than murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-kill-for-murder-is-a-punishment-incomparably-worse-than-the-crime/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“You magnify your failure to a crime, Vasya.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-magnify-your-failure-to-a-crime-vasya/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [In a way there's only a fine shade of difference between the healthy and the deranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/in-a-way-there-s-only-a-fine-shade-of-difference-between-the-healthy/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Now answer me, sincerely, honestly, who lives past forty? I'll tell you who does: fools and scoundrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/now-answer-me-sincerely-honestly-who-lives-past-forty-i-ll-tell-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There are crimes that are truly uncomely. With crimes, whatever they may be, the more blood, the more horror there is, the more imposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-are-crimes-that-are-truly-uncomely-with-crimes-whatever-they/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) [Explore all 642 Fyodor Dostoevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## More Excellent quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) [John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/) > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“I follow the Law—the Most Excellent Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-follow-the-law-the-most-excellent-law/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [President Bush has had an outstanding Secretary of State in Colin Powell and there are not many people who could replace him, making Condoleezza…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-bush-has-had-an-outstanding-secretary-of-state-in-colin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [Mindfulness is being aware of yourself, others, and your surroundings in the moment. When consciously and kindly focusing awareness on life as it unfolds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-thoele/mindfulness-is-being-aware-of-yourself-others-and-your-surroundings/) [Sue Thoele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-thoele/) [Browse all 1,413 Excellent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man’s nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life including reason and all the impulses. And although our life, in this manifestation of it, is often worthless, yet it is life and not simply extracting square roots.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fyodor Dostoevsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent-thing-there-s-no-disputing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent-thing-there-s-no-disputing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_excellent_you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent_2332737.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but…” — Fyodor Dostoevsky", "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": "Fyodor Dostoevsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You see, gentlemen, reason is an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent-thing-there-s-no-disputing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-see-gentlemen-reason-is-an-excellent-thing-there-s-no-disputing/#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 } } ] } ```