--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reason is not one tool of thought among…" description: "\"Reason is not one tool of thought among many, it is the entire toolbox. To advocate that reason be discarded in some circumstances is to advocate that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/george-h-smith-20207_atheism_reason-is-not-one-tool-of-thought-among_3195493.jpg" --- # Reason is not one tool of thought among many, it is the… ![“Reason is not one tool of thought among many, it is the entire toolbox. To advocate that reason be discarded in some circumstances is to advocate that thinking be discarded - which leaves one in the position of attempting to do a job after throwing away the required instrument.” quote by George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/george-h-smith-20207_atheism_reason-is-not-one-tool-of-thought-among_3195493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/george-h-smith-20207_atheism_reason-is-not-one-tool-of-thought-among_3195493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/george-h-smith-20207_atheism_reason-is-not-one-tool-of-thought-among_3195493.jpg) > “Reason is not one tool of thought among many, it is the entire toolbox. To advocate that reason be discarded in some circumstances is to advocate that thinking be discarded - which leaves one in the position of attempting to do a job after throwing away the required instrument.” [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason is the comprehensive tool for thought; discarding it undermines all thinking and hampers effective action. **In simple terms:** Reason is essential for thinking. Key Takeaway Never abandon reason entirely. Themes philosophy critical thinking epistemology Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical instructive When to use this quote - debate - policy making - scientific research - education Key Concepts rationalism toolbox metaphor cognitive limits Questions to Reflect On - When is intuition more useful than reason? - How do we balance reason with empathy? A Different Perspective Reason alone may not solve emotional or cultural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Throwing away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing-away/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [No advocate of reason can claim the right to force his ideas on others. No advocate of the free mind can claim the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/no-advocate-of-reason-can-claim-the-right-to-force-his-ideas-on/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Reason is a tool of weaklings who are afraid to be naked in the face of a cruel and conflictual reality and who therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-c-hicks/reason-is-a-tool-of-weaklings-who-are-afraid-to-be-naked-in-the-face/) [Stephen R.C. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-c-hicks/) > [Reason is the tool men use to determine if their statements about reality are valid: there is no other. Those who do not or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/reason-is-the-tool-men-use-to-determine-if-their-statements-about/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [“Every single one of us is born with a unique and perfect set of tools which enable us to affect the world in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-dutilly/every-single-one-of-us-is-born-with-a-unique-and-perfect-set-of-tools/) [Greg Dutilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-dutilly/) > [Intuition is the number one tool in the toolbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mellon/intuition-is-the-number-one-tool-in-the-toolbox/) Matthew Mellon > [“I am a dragon slayer!' I yell. My soft-spoken dragon slayer nods her head in my direction. 'Yes you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-esh-stephen-nauta/i-am-a-dragon-slayer-i-yell-my-soft-spoken-dragon-slayer-nods-her/) Jan Esh & Stephen Nauta > [I think a lot of people become actors because they have a great reservoir and repertoire of many different emotions they felt over their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-think-a-lot-of-people-become-actors-because-they-have-a-great/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [“The most powerful tool you possess is your own belief in yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/the-most-powerful-tool-you-possess-is-your-own-belief-in-yourself/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [Then, you know, the other more-traditional role of the producer in, like, the kind of Quincy Jones sense is kind of part arranger. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/then-you-know-the-other-more-traditional-role-of-the-producer-in-like/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Nature has provided us a spectacular toolbox. The toolbox exists. An architect far better and smarter than us has given us that toolbox, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schuler/nature-has-provided-us-a-spectacular-toolbox-the-toolbox-exists-an/) [Barry Schuler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schuler/) > [I want to use every tool in the toolbox that's at our disposal to help our economy and put people back to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hagan/i-want-to-use-every-tool-in-the-toolbox-that-s-at-our-disposal-to/) [Kay Hagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hagan/) > [“Why waste the space on a stack of half-read books and periodicals, when you could turn your nightstand into a tactical toolbox?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-emerson/why-waste-the-space-on-a-stack-of-half-read-books-and-periodicals/) Clint Emerson > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I'm of the philosophy that you wage a campaign of full engagement and you use every tool in the toolbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/i-m-of-the-philosophy-that-you-wage-a-campaign-of-full-engagement-and/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [I think the emotional toolbox I have is healthy for an actor, as far as the intensity of emotions go. It's other things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannyn-sossamon/i-think-the-emotional-toolbox-i-have-is-healthy-for-an-actor-as-far/) [Shannyn Sossamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannyn-sossamon/) ## More by George H. Smith > [I am continually amazed by the credence given to religious claims in the intellectual community; and, as a human being, i am appaulled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/i-am-continually-amazed-by-the-credence-given-to-religious-claims-in/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [When the atheist is told that God is unknowable, he may interpret this claim in one of two ways. He may suppose, first, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/when-the-atheist-is-told-that-god-is-unknowable-he-may-interpret-this/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [“It is my firm conviction that man has nothing to gain, emotionally or otherwise, by adhering to a falsehood, regardless of how comfortable or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/it-is-my-firm-conviction-that-man-has-nothing-to-gain-emotionally-or/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [ The negative way \[of describing God\] is a cardboard prop of Christianity to conceal its unknowable God. When this prop collapses, theistic agnosticism emerges,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/the-negative-way-of-describing-god-is-a-cardboard-prop-of/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [The theist must present an intelligible description of god. Until he does so, god makes no more sense than unie; both are cognitively empty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/the-theist-must-present-an-intelligible-description-of-god-until-he/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [It cannot be emphasized too strongly that Christianity has a vested interest in human misery. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [The leap of faith is a strategic impasse that confronts every Christian in search of converts; and, as he sees the matter, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/the-leap-of-faith-is-a-strategic-impasse-that-confronts-every/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [One can be committed to conformity or one can be committed to truth, but not both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/one-can-be-committed-to-conformity-or-one-can-be-committed-to-truth/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [Christianity has nothing to offer a happy man living in a natural, intelligible universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/christianity-has-nothing-to-offer-a-happy-man-living-in-a-natural/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [Christianity cannot erase man's need for pleasure, nor can it eradicate the various sources of pleasure. What it can do, however, and what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/christianity-cannot-erase-man-s-need-for-pleasure-nor-can-it/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) [Explore all 31 George H. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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