--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reason ... contradicts the established…" description: "\"Reason ... contradicts the established order of men and things on behalf of existing societal forces that reveal the irrational character of this order..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/herbert-marcuse-3589_action_reason-contradicts-the-established-order_589989.jpg" --- # Reason ... contradicts the established order of men and… ![“Reason ... contradicts the established order of men and things on behalf of existing societal forces that reveal the irrational character of this order for "rational" is a mode of thought and action which is geared to reduce ignorance, destruction, brutality, and oppression.” quote by Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/herbert-marcuse-3589_action_reason-contradicts-the-established-order_589989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/herbert-marcuse-3589_action_reason-contradicts-the-established-order_589989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/herbert-marcuse-3589_action_reason-contradicts-the-established-order_589989.jpg) > “Reason ... contradicts the established order of men and things on behalf of existing societal forces that reveal the irrational character of this order for "rational" is a mode of thought and action which is geared to reduce ignorance, destruction, brutality, and oppression.” [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that rationality, driven by existing power structures, masks and sustains irrational oppression, rather than truly reducing harm. **In simple terms:** Rationality can hide oppression. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind so-called rational systems. Themes philosophy politics critical theory Mood critical provocative Type theoretical analytical When to use this quote - social reform - education - policy analysis - activism Key Concepts Ideology power structures rationality Questions to Reflect On - How does power shape what is called rational? - Can rational tools be used for liberation? A Different Perspective Rationality may also enable efficient oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thoughts and actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-actions/) ## Related quotes > [In a way, one gets stability from being able to order the rational mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/in-a-way-one-gets-stability-from-being-able-to-order-the-rational-mind/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [“A sprout as the subject is without arising, because it is free from arising from any of the four extremes, just as a frog's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/a-sprout-as-the-subject-is-without-arising-because-it-is-free-from/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [ “Here, master Bhavya states \[this as\] the main argument, and then he formulates four autonomous reasons as the means to prove the subject property.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/here-master-bhavya-states-this-as-the-main-argument-and-then-he/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [The people are led to find in the productive apparatus the effective agent of thought and action to which their personal thought and action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-people-are-led-to-find-in-the-productive-apparatus-the-effective/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [We are personally responsible for our own state of consciousness. 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