--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not reason that gives us our moral…" description: "\"It is not reason that gives us our moral orientation, it is sensitivity.\" — Maurice Barres" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/maurice-barres-80333_art_it-is-not-reason-that-gives-us-our-moral_1016059.png" --- # It is not reason that gives us our moral orientation, it… ![“It is not reason that gives us our moral orientation, it is sensitivity.” quote by Maurice Barres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/maurice-barres-80333_art_it-is-not-reason-that-gives-us-our-moral_1016059.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/maurice-barres-80333_art_it-is-not-reason-that-gives-us-our-moral_1016059.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/maurice-barres-80333_art_it-is-not-reason-that-gives-us-our-moral_1016059.png) > “It is not reason that gives us our moral orientation, it is sensitivity.” Maurice Barres ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral sense stems from empathy rather than logical analysis. **In simple terms:** Sensitivity guides morality more than reason. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy to shape ethics. Themes ethics empathy morality Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - social justice - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does empathy influence your decisions? - Can reason override feeling? A Different Perspective Reason still plays a role in ethical reasoning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Orientation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orientation/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitivity/) ## Related quotes > [True knowledge gives a moral standing and moral strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/true-knowledge-gives-a-moral-standing-and-moral-strength/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Style is not neutral; it gives moral directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/style-is-not-neutral-it-gives-moral-directions/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [My relationship with God is what gives me a moral compass on what decisions to make and that stuff. I'm thankful that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/my-relationship-with-god-is-what-gives-me-a-moral-compass-on-what/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [If you tell me I can't understand you because of my color or you can't understand me because of your sexual orientation or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-you-tell-me-i-can-t-understand-you-because-of-my-color-or-you-can/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [My biggest weakness is my sensitivity. I am too sensitive a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/my-biggest-weakness-is-my-sensitivity-i-am-too-sensitive-a-person/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The art of communicating is to speak with a non judging sensitivity and mean it rather than impulsively verbalizing whatever feelings arise; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/the-art-of-communicating-is-to-speak-with-a-non-judging-sensitivity/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [The short way to happiness is through kindness and sensitivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-short-way-to-happiness-is-through-kindness-and-sensitivity/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Sensitivity is a sign of strength. It's not about toughening up, it's about smartening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/sensitivity-is-a-sign-of-strength-it-s-not-about-toughening-up-it-s/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [In order to give meaning to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what he frames. This attitude requires concentration, a discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/in-order-to-give-meaning-to-the-world-one-has-to-feel-oneself/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [Within the yogic philosophy, the edge is considered to be my creative teacher from whom I can learn about myself. If I approach this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dychtwald/within-the-yogic-philosophy-the-edge-is-considered-to-be-my-creative/) [Ken Dychtwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dychtwald/) > [I can see how, given a certain degree of sensitivities, proclivities and rage, I could have ended up differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-can-see-how-given-a-certain-degree-of-sensitivities-proclivities/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Your sensitivity is power. Don't let people transform your qualities into weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/your-sensitivity-is-power-don-t-let-people-transform-your-qualities/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I'm very sensitive in real life. I cannot not cry if someone around me is crying. I will start to cry if someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-m-very-sensitive-in-real-life-i-cannot-not-cry-if-someone-around-me/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [If we do not appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the human heart, how can we appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/if-we-do-not-appreciate-the-sensitivity-and-subtlety-of-the-human/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [I began to use my sensitivity. And I realized I wasn't weird because I cried a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-began-to-use-my-sensitivity-and-i-realized-i-wasn-t-weird-because-i/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) ## More by Maurice Barres > [We find in biking the fullfilment of an antique instinct: vagabondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-barres/we-find-in-biking-the-fullfilment-of-an-antique-instinct-vagabondage/) Maurice Barres > [The politician is an acrobat. He keeps his balance by saying the opposite of what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-barres/the-politician-is-an-acrobat-he-keeps-his-balance-by-saying-the/) Maurice Barres Explore all 3 Maurice Barres quotes ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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