--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There comes a time when one must be…" description: "\"“There comes a time when one must be strong with rationalists, for they can reduce anything whatever to dust, if they happen not to like the look of it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4d/robertson-davies-834_time_there-comes-a-time-when-one-must-be-stro_1206886.jpg" --- # There comes a time when one must be strong with… ![“There comes a time when one must be strong with rationalists, for they can reduce anything whatever to dust, if they happen not to like the look of it, or if it threatens their deep-buried negativism. I mean of course rationalists like you, who take some little provincial world of their own as the…” quote by Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4d/robertson-davies-834_time_there-comes-a-time-when-one-must-be-stro_1206886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4d/robertson-davies-834_time_there-comes-a-time-when-one-must-be-stro_1206886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4d/robertson-davies-834_time_there-comes-a-time-when-one-must-be-stro_1206886.jpg) > ““There comes a time when one must be strong with rationalists, for they can reduce anything whatever to dust, if they happen not to like the look of it, or if it threatens their deep-buried negativism. I mean of course rationalists like you, who take some little provincial world of their own as the whole of the universe and the seat of all knowledge.”” [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rationalists can dismiss ideas they dislike, reducing complex matters to dust, reflecting a defensive, narrow worldview. **In simple terms:** Rationalists may dismiss disliked ideas, showing narrow view. Key Takeaway Stay open, question dismissive rationalism. Themes rationalism defensiveness intellectual humility Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical intellectual When to use this quote - debates - academic discourse - personal belief challenges - media discourse Key Concepts epistemology dogmatism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When have you dismissed an idea? - How can you foster openness? A Different Perspective Rationalism can become closed‑minded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Course Rationalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-rationalists-3641843/) [Rationalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalists-319667/) [Rationalists Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalists-like-3641841/) [Rationalists Reduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalists-reduce-3641842/) [Strong Rationalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-rationalists-3641840/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The various systems of doctrine that have held dominion over man have been demonstrated to be true beyond all question by rationalists of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-trotter/the-various-systems-of-doctrine-that-have-held-dominion-over-man-have/) [Wilfred Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-trotter/) > [Artists are mystics rather than rationalists. 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Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) ## More by Robertson Davies > [“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-irrational-will-have-its-say-perhaps-because-irrational-is-the/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-that-looks-evil-don-t-smear-it-with/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/extraordinary-people-survive-under-the-most-terrible-circumstances/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-i-had-to-describe-my-remarks-this-evening-frankly-as-if-i-were-in/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-people-of-the-united-states-perhaps-more-than-any-other-nation-in/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I don't suppose God laughs at the people who think He doesn't exist. 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