Two angels guide
The path of man, both aged and yet young.
As angels are, ripening through read more

Two angels guide
The path of man, both aged and yet young.
As angels are, ripening through endless years,
On one he leans: some call her Memory,
And some Tradition; and her voice is sweet,
With deep mysterious accords: the other,
Floating above, holds down a lamp with streams
A light divine and searching on the earth,
Compelling eyes and footsteps. Memory yields,
Yet clings with loving check, and shines anew,
Reflecting all the rays of that bright lamp
Our angel Reason holds. We had not walked
But for Tradition; we walk evermore
To higher paths by brightening Reason's lamp.

All extremes does perfect reason flee,
And wishes to be wise quite soberly.
[Fr., La parfaite raison read more

All extremes does perfect reason flee,
And wishes to be wise quite soberly.
[Fr., La parfaite raison fuit toute extremite,
Et veut que l'on soit sage avec sobriete.]

Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them. Leave them read more

Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them. Leave them alone.

Eloquence may set fire to reason.

Eloquence may set fire to reason.

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures
generally content themselves with the title.

To be rational is so glorious a thing, that two-legged creatures
generally content themselves with the title.

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher read more

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.

Reason can in general do more than blind force.

Reason can in general do more than blind force.

It is not necessary to retain facts that we may reason concerning
them.
[Fr., Il n'est pas necessaire read more

It is not necessary to retain facts that we may reason concerning
them.
[Fr., Il n'est pas necessaire de tenir les choses pour en
raisonner.]

Reason is the wise man's guide, example the fool's.

Reason is the wise man's guide, example the fool's.