Common Quote by Julian Barnes
“He had a better mind and a more rigorous temperament than me; he thought logically, and then acted on the conclusion of logical thought. Whereas most of us, I suspect, do the opposite: we make an instinctive decision, then build up an infrastructure of reasoning to justify it. And call the result common sense.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sense of an Ending, 2011
Logical thinking precedes action; many act on instinct then rationalize.
In simple terms: Think before acting, not rationalize after.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize logical reasoning before decisions.
Themes
logic
decisionmaking
reasoning
instinct
common sense
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal relationships
- policy development
- creative projects
Key Concepts
philosophy
cognitive bias
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How often do you justify instincts?
- Can you practice pre‑emptive reasoning?
A Different Perspective
People may resist slowing down.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
