--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To abdicate from the rule of reason and…" description: "\"To abdicate from the rule of reason and substitute for it an authentication of belief by the intentness and degree of conviction with which we hold it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/peter-medawar-9996_atheism_to-abdicate-from-the-rule-of-reason-and_1969208.jpg" --- # To abdicate from the rule of reason and substitute for it… ![“To abdicate from the rule of reason and substitute for it an authentication of belief by the intentness and degree of conviction with which we hold it can be perilous and destructive. Religious beliefs give a spurious spiritual dimension to tribal enmities.” quote by Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/peter-medawar-9996_atheism_to-abdicate-from-the-rule-of-reason-and_1969208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/peter-medawar-9996_atheism_to-abdicate-from-the-rule-of-reason-and_1969208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/peter-medawar-9996_atheism_to-abdicate-from-the-rule-of-reason-and_1969208.jpg) > “To abdicate from the rule of reason and substitute for it an authentication of belief by the intentness and degree of conviction with which we hold it can be perilous and destructive. Religious beliefs give a spurious spiritual dimension to tribal enmities.” [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Replacing reason with belief, especially when driven by strong conviction, can be dangerous and fuel tribal conflicts. **In simple terms:** Replacing reason with belief can be harmful. Key Takeaway Balance reason and belief to avoid conflict. Themes reason belief conflict tribalism philosophy Mood critical reflective Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - Political discourse - religious debates - personal decisions Key Concepts Epistemology faith cognitive bias social division Questions to Reflect On - Are your beliefs evidence‑based? - How do you handle contradictory views? A Different Perspective Strong convictions may blind us to evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abdicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdicate-1993173/) [Abdicate Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdicate-rule-3297345/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs Spurious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-spurious-3297344/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive/) [Dimensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dimensions/) [Enmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enmity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Religious beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-beliefs/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual dimensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-dimensions/) [Substitutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substitutes/) ## Related quotes > [I am so anxious for you not to abdicate and I think the fact that you do is going to put me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallis-simpson-duchess-of-windsor/i-am-so-anxious-for-you-not-to-abdicate-and-i-think-the-fact-that-you/) [Wallis Simpson Duchess Of Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallis-simpson-duchess-of-windsor/) > [If you don't abdicate or misuse your power, pressure takes you into realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/if-you-don-t-abdicate-or-misuse-your-power-pressure-takes-you-into/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [ The one way, possibly, out of this is for \[Bashar\] Assad to abdicate and plead, perhaps to Russia or somewhere else. Would save another… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-one-way-possibly-out-of-this-is-for-bashar-assad-to-abdicate-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The desire to abdicate, to give up - for me, that's primal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/the-desire-to-abdicate-to-give-up-for-me-that-s-primal/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [“Sit under the sun abdicate and be your own king”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/sit-under-the-sun-abdicate-and-be-your-own-king/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Anyone happy in this age and place Is daft or corrupt. 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