Indu'd
With sanctity of reason.

Indu'd
With sanctity of reason.

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.

An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.

An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.

If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.

If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.

Reason is a supple nymph, and slippery as a fish by nature. She had as leave give her kiss to read more

Reason is a supple nymph, and slippery as a fish by nature. She had as leave give her kiss to an absurdity any day, as to syllogistic truth. The absurdity may turn out truer.

For comic writers charge Socrates with making the worse appear
the better reason.
[Lat., Nam et Socrati objiciunt read more

For comic writers charge Socrates with making the worse appear
the better reason.
[Lat., Nam et Socrati objiciunt comici, docere eum quomodo
pejorem causam meliorem faciat.]

Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one.

Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one.

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear
read more

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest counsels.

All is but a jest, all dust, all not worth two peason:
For why in man's matters is neither read more

All is but a jest, all dust, all not worth two peason:
For why in man's matters is neither rime nor reason.
[Lat., Omnia sunt risus, sunt pulvis, et omnia nil sunt:
Res hominum cunctae, nam ratione lies.]