Rational Thought Quotes

“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.”
― Socrates

“The inconsistencies that haunt our relationships with animals also result from the quirks of human cognition. We like to think of ourselves as the rational species. But research in cognitive psychology and behavioral economics shows that our thinking and behavior are often completely illogical. In one study, for example, groups of people were independently asked how much they would give to prevent waterfowl from being killed in polluted oil ponds. On average, the subjects said they would pay $80 to save 2,000 birds, $78 to save 20,000 birds, and $88 to save 200,000 birds. Sometimes animals act more logically than people do; a recent study found that when picking a new home, the decisions of ant colonies were more rational than those of human house-hunters.
What is it about human psychology that makes it so difficult for us to think consistently about animals? The paradoxes that plague our interactions with other species are due to the fact that much of our thinking is a mire of instinct, learning, language, culture, intuition, and our reliance on mental shortcuts.”
― Hal Herzog, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals

“To irrational principles, one cannot be loyal. Ideas that are not derived from reality cannot be consistently practiced in reality.

--as quoted by Leonard Peikoff in "Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand”
― Ayn Rand

“I am heartened to find so much wit in you, that you'd give thought to consequences and choose your way with reason, not passion only.”
― Deborah J. Lightfoot, The Wysard

“If you can’t define something you have no formal rational way of knowing that it exists. Neither can you really tell anyone else what it is. There is, in fact, no formal difference between inability to define and stupidity.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

“Life is fundamentally a mental state. We live in a dream world that we create. Whose life is truer, the rational man of action pursuing practical goals of personal happiness and wealth or the philosophic man who lives in a world of theoretical and metaphysical ideas? We ascribe the value quotient to our lives by making decisions that we score as either valid or invalid based upon our personal ethics and how we think and behave.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

“Feelings are invulnerable to rational thought.”
― Stephen King, Doctor Sleep

“If the way of wisdom was easy, anyone would have walked in. Wisdom is not a whore she is a shy mademoiselle so only those who strives wins her heart.”
― Rajesh Nanoo

“I am more human than rational.”
― Karen Essex, Stealing Athena

“No rational person would intentionally commit an act of evil, for everyone knows that it would bring the wrath of the community upon him. (Socrates)”
― Karen Essex, Stealing Athena

“That was her last rational thought. She gave herself up to Cam completely, feasting on her. She couldn't get enough of her.”
― Jo Victor, Romance by the Book

“Dare to exercise rational thinking.”
― Abhijit Naskar

“Progress of the human society is predicated upon the proper functioning of a key element of the human mind, that is reasoning.”
― Abhijit Naskar

“I do not want to study alchemy, Lord Carlston," she hissed. "It is heretical nonsense. Nor do I want to fight. All you have shown me is a world of danger and threat, and yet you expect to step into it without even asking me if I wish to do so.".........."I am no warrior, sir, nor do I aspire to be. I have been taught to sew and sing and dance, and my duty is to marry, not fight demons. Look at me: I am an Earl's daughter, not a man versed in swords and fisticuffs.”
― Alison Goodman, The Dark Days Club

“Rationality attracts conscientious humans, whereas mysticism attracts fools.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Rowdy Buddha: The First Sapiens

“Baptize yourself with the flow of rational thinking and the world is bound to become rational.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Illusion of Religion: A Treatise on Religious Fundamentalism

“Never trust books on the question of whether or not to trust your rational thinking. Trust your rational thinking on the question of whether or not to trust the books.”
― Abhijit Naskar

“You are modern humans of the civilized world. And modern humans rise beyond all laws and superstitions of the society. They help their fellow beings to rise from the ashes of ignorance, illusion and fear.”
― Abhijit Naskar, In Search of Divinity: Journey to The Kingdom of Conscience

“We rely upon both instinctive and learned behavior in order to survive. Thinking and instinct are interrelated, but there is less difference between instinctive behaviors and rational thought than many people acknowledge.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

“Personal reason is admittedly a meager asset, but take away human reason and we would exist in a world of utter ignorance and perpetual darkness.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

“As you see, you can follow our guidelines and still enjoy eating. In fact, if you like to eat, you should have extra incentive to live longer. Just think -if you add only five years to your life- that means you get to eat at least 5,500 more meals.”
― David A. Kekich, Life Extension Express: 7 Steps You Can Take Now, To Catch The Emerging Wave Of Medical Breakthroughs... For A Youthful Indefinite (Yes, Indefinite) Lifespan

“we believe certain things because they ought to be true.”
― Thomas Gilovich, How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

“Because so much disagreement remains hidden, our beliefs are not properly shaped by healthy scrutiny and debate. The absence of such argument also leads us to exaggerate the extent to which other people believe the way we do.”
― Thomas Gilovich, How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

“When we prefer to believe something, we may approach the relevant evidence by asking ourselves,"what evidence is there to support this belief?"...Note that this question is not unbiased: It directs our attention to supportive evidence and away from information that might contradict the desired conclusion. Because it is almost always possible to uncover some supportive evidence, the asymmetrical way we frame the question makes us overly likely to become convinced of what we hope to be true.”
― Thomas Gilovich, How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

“You cannot be entirely explained, as a person, in the language of science. For that reason, the very fact of your personality seems mysterious, more or less, for my rational You cannot be entirely explained, as a person, in the language of science. For that reason, the very fact of your personality seems mysterious, more or less, for my rational thought -- the thought of a scientist. Regardless of what I think and how I do my best to analyze you, there will still be an open room for unknown, unpredictable features of your personality.thought -- the thought of a scientist. Regardless of what I think and how I do my best to analyze you, there will still be an open room for unknown, unpredictable features of your personality.”
― Elmar Hussein

“Never make crucial decisions when angry. The rage that clouds judgement fades and only its consequences linger thereafter.”
― Stewart Stafford

“Rational thinking is not the best path to sensuality. In fact, I doubt it can even point you in that direction.”
― Lebo Grand

“When you are not sensual, you are logical.”
― Lebo Grand

“Contrary to some popular opinions and partial teachings, Zen is not, in the end, opposed to rational thought. But it does teach that we need to dig down beneath discursive reasoning by means of meditation, reconnecting intellectual knowledge to a deeper, more holistic wisdom.”
― Bret W Davis, Zen Pathways: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Practice of Zen Buddhism