--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not…" description: "\"“Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good sense, if that good sense contributes to our misery.” Everyone agreed with me, and yet I found no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/voltaire-173_good-sense_clearly-i-said-we-should-choose-not-to-h_999079.jpg" --- # Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good… ![“Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good sense, if that good sense contributes to our misery.” Everyone agreed with me, and yet I found no one who wanted to accept the bargain of becoming ignorant in order to become content. From this I concluded that though we greatly value happiness…” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/voltaire-173_good-sense_clearly-i-said-we-should-choose-not-to-h_999079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/voltaire-173_good-sense_clearly-i-said-we-should-choose-not-to-h_999079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/voltaire-173_good-sense_clearly-i-said-we-should-choose-not-to-h_999079.jpg) > ““Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good sense, if that good sense contributes to our misery.” Everyone agreed with me, and yet I found no one who wanted to accept the bargain of becoming ignorant in order to become content. From this I concluded that though we greatly value happiness, we place even greater value on reason. But yet, upon reflection, it seems that to prefer reason to happiness is to be quite insane.”” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People value reason over happiness, but preferring reason can be irrational. **In simple terms:** Reason vs happiness conflict. Key Takeaway Balance reason with joy. Themes reason happiness irrationality Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - ethical dilemmas - mental health - career planning Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can you find happiness without sacrificing reason? - When does reason become harmful? A Different Perspective Pure reason may ignore emotional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-happiness-626567/) [Sense Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-good-305408/) [Value Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-reason-2096667/) ## Related quotes > [No one is mediocre who has good sense and good sentiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/no-one-is-mediocre-who-has-good-sense-and-good-sentiments/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Good sense and good nature are never separated; and good nature is the product of right reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/good-sense-and-good-nature-are-never-separated-and-good-nature-is-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Politeness is the result of good sense and good nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politeness-is-the-result-of-good-sense-and-good-nature/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Good sense and good-nature are never separated, though the ignorant world has thought otherwise. Good-nature, by which I mean beneficence and candor, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/good-sense-and-good-nature-are-never-separated-though-the-ignorant/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Poetry is certainly something more than good sense, but it must be good sense, at all events, just as a palace is more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/poetry-is-certainly-something-more-than-good-sense-but-it-must-be/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Between good sense and good taste there lies the difference between a cause and its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/between-good-sense-and-good-taste-there-lies-the-difference-between-a/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Agriculture engenders good sense, and good sense of an excellent kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/agriculture-engenders-good-sense-and-good-sense-of-an-excellent-kind/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [In the end, I always act from the heart, even if I also value reason and tradition. I wish I could explain why, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/in-the-end-i-always-act-from-the-heart-even-if-i-also-value-reason/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [If everything in the past has value, then there’s no reason for regret, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/if-everything-in-the-past-has-value-then-there-s-no-reason-for-regret/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Our innate, built-in human value is the reason we have binding duties or obligations towards each other that we don't have towards any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/our-innate-built-in-human-value-is-the-reason-we-have-binding-duties/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [The first person on your mind when you wake up in the morning, is often the reason for your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syntific/the-first-person-on-your-mind-when-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-is/) [Syntific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syntific/) > [Always be the reason of someone's happiness, never be just a part of it. Be a part of someone's sadness, but never be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-be-the-reason-of-someone-s-happiness-never-be-just-a-part-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just want you to be happy, even if Im not the reason behind that happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin/i-just-want-you-to-be-happy-even-if-im-not-the-reason-behind-that/) [Alvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin/) > [Reason and happiness are like other flowers; they wither when plucked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/reason-and-happiness-are-like-other-flowers-they-wither-when-plucked/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I just want you to be happy even if I'm not the reason behind that happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-want-you-to-be-happy-even-if-i-m-not-the-reason-behind-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Good sense quotes > [I am a great lover of art, in many forms: paintings, objets, textiles. I don't have the talent for painting, but I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/i-am-a-great-lover-of-art-in-many-forms-paintings-objets-textiles-i/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [Conceptual relativism is a heady and exotic doctrine, or would be if we could make good sense of it. The trouble is, as so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-davidson/conceptual-relativism-is-a-heady-and-exotic-doctrine-or-would-be-if/) [Donald Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-davidson/) > [The combination of landing the biggest interview of my career and having a drill in my back reminds me that God only gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/the-combination-of-landing-the-biggest-interview-of-my-career-and/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [So there you have it: Nature is a rotten mess. But that's only the beginning. If you take your eyes off it for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/so-there-you-have-it-nature-is-a-rotten-mess-but-that-s-only-the/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-persuaded-myself-that-the-good-sense-of-the-people-will-always/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I love Andre 3000 from OutKast. I think we'd complement each other, but I'm hoping he's got a good sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-love-andre-3000-from-outkast-i-think-we-d-complement-each-other-but/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [For some reason, I have better luck when I work with women. I guess I have a good sense of sisterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/for-some-reason-i-have-better-luck-when-i-work-with-women-i-guess-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Fact is, the work place to a great extent is "where we live." We need star accountants. Boffo saleswomen. Over-the-top creatives in marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/fact-is-the-work-place-to-a-great-extent-is-where-we-live-we-need/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [It is good to preserve the name, wealth, and honors you inherit, but it is better in every way if you yourself create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-baldorioty-de-castro/it-is-good-to-preserve-the-name-wealth-and-honors-you-inherit-but-it/) [Roman Baldorioty de Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-baldorioty-de-castro/) > [Agriculture engenders good sense, and good sense of an excellent kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/agriculture-engenders-good-sense-and-good-sense-of-an-excellent-kind/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [I have a very good sense of tone, and it's possible to talk about very personal things and maintain a level of dignity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-have-a-very-good-sense-of-tone-and-it-s-possible-to-talk-about-very/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I should esteem it the extreme of imprudence to prolong the precarious state of our national affairs, and to expose the Union to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-should-esteem-it-the-extreme-of-imprudence-to-prolong-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [President Obama has a good sense not just of the economic requisites for financial crisis firefighting but also how you build political support for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lael-brainard/president-obama-has-a-good-sense-not-just-of-the-economic-requisites/) [Lael Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lael-brainard/) > [One tends to give one's fingers too little credit for their own good sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/one-tends-to-give-one-s-fingers-too-little-credit-for-their-own-good/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) [Browse all 339 Good sense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Clearly,” I said, “we should choose not to have good sense, if that good sense contributes to our misery.” Everyone agreed with me, and yet I found no one who wanted to accept the bargain of becoming ignorant in order to become content. 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