Foreknowledge

The "second sight" possessed by the Highlanders in Scotland is actually a foreknowledge of future events. I believe they possess this gift because they don't wear trousers... That is also why in all countries women are more prone to utter prophecies. - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg


Deductive reasoning.

Fences

Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up. - G. K. Chesterton

. It may have been built by a person of reason rather than a fool.

It Ain't Relative

Relativity applies to physics, not ethics. - Albert Einstein

- It's either right or wrong.

Bigots, Fools and Slaves

He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave. - Sir William Drummond


Reason is what separates us from the critters.

Heartstrings

Beware the pull on your heartstrings - it's often the purse-strings that are actually being reached for. - Barbara Mikkelson


A propaganda technique which works well on folks who fail to use reason to moderate their emotions.

Getting The Truth

A few observations and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning lead to truth. - Alexis Carrel


Rational thought only works well if you are dealing with reality.

Educational Problem Solving

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. - Roger Lewin


And then they can't reason.

Neither Rhyme or Reason

I was promis'd on a time,
To have a reason for my rhyme:
But from that time unto this season,
I had neither rhyme or reason. - Edmund Spenser

Follow the link to better understand the origin of "rhyme or reason."

Persuasion

We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others. - Blaise Pascal


Present your case not to persuade, but to allow coming to your conclusion.

Adam and Eve's Faults

We all find fault with Adam and Eve for not being contented, but if they had been satisfied with the garden of Eden, and themselves, they would have been living there now, the only two human beings on the face of the earth, as innocent as a couple of vegetable oysters. They would have been two splendid specimens of the handy work of God, elegant portraits in the vestibule of heaven, but they would not have developed reason, the only God-like attribute in man. - Josh Billings


Contentment ain't natural.

Time Converts

Time makes more converts than reason. - Thomas Paine

They may not come around without your help, but if you keep at it, they will.

Finding Quality

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. - William A. Foster


Nature finds quality through a process of finding what does not fail; Humans through reason.

Reality: The Final Arbiter

When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right, he will learn; if I am wrong, I will; one of us will win, but both will profit. - Ayn Rand in John Galts speech


Tomorrow Atlas Shrugged - Part 1 will open in theaters.

Rewards and Punishments

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are consequences. - Robert G Ingersoll


Rewards and punishments are possible only when there is two or more rational creatures (humans) involved.

Shine on Brightly

An epigram often flashes light into regions where reason shines but dimly. - Edwin P. Whipple


Hopefully the epigram will cause reason to shine more brightly.


(Other posts on Reason)

Privileged Laughter

Laughter is one of the very privileges of reason, being confined to the human species. - Thomas Carlyle 

Don't confuse laughter with giggling - it's not fueled by reason.

(Other posts on Reason) 

Pursuit of Ideas

Not to engage in the pursuit of ideas is to live like ants instead of men. - Mortimer Adler 


Mankind's only remarkable survival skill is the mind and rational thought.


(Other posts on Thinking) 

Future Fear

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus 


Provided you have learned to reason - if you haven't, be afraid.


(Other posts on Fear) 

Reason as a Tool

He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave. - Sir William Drummond 


One cannot make good decisions without having principles from which to use reason to come to an honest conclusion. Principles provide a solid foundation and reason  provides the tools needed  for building.


(Other posts on Reason) 

Absense of Bugs

Program testing can be a very effective way to show the presence of bugs, but is hopelessly inadequate for showing their absence. - Edsger W. Dijkstra  


It is generally impossible to prove a negative - like proving that God does not exist.


(Other posts on Truth)