--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His idea was to begin with those broad…" description: "\"“His idea was to begin with those broad truths that must underlie all conceivable mental existences and establish a basis on those. The great principle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/h-g-wells-2-1299_deductive-reasoning_his-idea-was-to-begin-with-those-broad-t_1363071.jpg" --- # His idea was to begin with those broad truths that must… ![“His idea was to begin with those broad truths that must underlie all conceivable mental existences and establish a basis on those. The great principles of geometry, to begin with. He proposed to take some leading proposition of Euclid's, and show by construction that its truth was known to us, to…” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/h-g-wells-2-1299_deductive-reasoning_his-idea-was-to-begin-with-those-broad-t_1363071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/h-g-wells-2-1299_deductive-reasoning_his-idea-was-to-begin-with-those-broad-t_1363071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/h-g-wells-2-1299_deductive-reasoning_his-idea-was-to-begin-with-those-broad-t_1363071.jpg) > ““His idea was to begin with those broad truths that must underlie all conceivable mental existences and establish a basis on those. The great principles of geometry, to begin with. He proposed to take some leading proposition of Euclid's, and show by construction that its truth was known to us, to demonstrate, for example, that the angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal, and that if the equal sides be produced the angles on the other side of the base are equal also, or that the square on the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the two other sides. By demonstrating our knowledge of these things we should demonstrate our possession of a reasonable intelligence.”” [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that establishing fundamental geometric truths demonstrates rational intelligence and underpins all mental concepts. **In simple terms:** Showing basic geometry proves we have reasonable intelligence. Key Takeaway Use basic principles to validate deeper ideas. Themes logic reason education science philosophy Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - teaching geometry - building curricula - philosophical debates - scientific reasoning Key Concepts geometry epistemology foundations of knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How do basic truths shape complex understanding? - Can non‑Euclidean ideas also prove intelligence? A Different Perspective Relies on acceptance of Euclidean geometry, which may not hold in non‑Euclidean contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Geometry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geometry/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [ \[T\]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-now-be-voted-down-with-as-much/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [“The knowledge of certain principles easily compensates the lack of knowledge of certain facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/the-knowledge-of-certain-principles-easily-compensates-the-lack-of/) [Claude Adrien Helvétius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [“When a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/when-a-fact-appears-to-be-opposed-to-a-long-train-of-deductions-it/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Children are rarely taught critical thinking anymore, and society has become so antirational that basic reason and evidence are the new counterculture: thought is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/children-are-rarely-taught-critical-thinking-anymore-and-society-has/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“People were so easy to predict if one only paid attention to their lips. 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