“To me this question whether liberty is a good or a bad thing appears as irrational as the question whether fire is a good or a bad thing. It is both good and bad according to time, place, and circumstance, and a complete answer to the question, In what cases is liberty good and in what cases is it bad? would involve not merely a universal history of mankind, but a complete solution of the problems which such a history would offer.” ProblemAnswersLibertyCasesFireMankindCircumstancesOffersSolutionsUniversalBad ThingsIrrationalGood And Bad Author:James Fitzjames Stephen
“Most men appear to think that the art of despotic government is statesmanship, and what men affirm to be unjust and inexpedient in their own case they are not ashamed of practicing towards others; they demand just rule for themselves, but where other men are concerned they care nothing about it. Such behavior is irrational; unless the one party is, and the other is not, born to serve, in which case men have a right to command, not indeed all their fellows, but only those who are intended to be subjects; just as we ought not to hunt mankind, whether for food or sacrifice . .” ThinkingMenArtGovernmentCareBornPartyCasesSacrificeSubjectsMankindHuman NatureOughtDemandBehaviorConcernedFellowsCommandAshamedIrrationalUnjustHuntsStatesmanshipCommand Not Author:Aristotle
“You must strive to multiply bread so that it suffices for the tables of mankind, and not rather favor an artificial control of birth, which would be irrational, in order to diminish the number of guests at the banquet of life.” Would BeOrderNumbersMankindBirthTablesStriveFavorsBreadGuestsArtificialIrrationalDiminishBanquets Book:Christian Values and Virtues Source: Christian Values and Virtues
“As we grow older we become more conscious of the complexity, incoherence, and unreasonableness of human beings; this indeed is the only excuse that offers for the middle-aged or elderly writer whose thoughts should more properly be turned to graver matters, occupying himself with the trivial concerns of imaginary people.” PeopleIfsMenShouldHumansRealMatterGrowsHuman BeingsFictionStudyMiddleMankindFiguresOffersCreaturesConsciousConcernExcuseSignificantReal LifeComplexitySensibleImaginaryIrrationalElderlyMiddle AgedIncoherenceOccupy Yourself Author:W. Somerset Maugham
“Our lives are more like fragmentary dreams than the enactments of conscious selves. We control very little of what we most care about; many of our most fateful decisions are made unbeknownst to ourselves. Yet we insist that mankind can achieve what we cannot: conscious mastery of its existence. This is the creed of those who have given up an irrational belief in God for an irrational faith in mankind.” LittlesMadeSelfDreamCareBeliefGivenDecisionExistenceOur LivesAchieveMankindConsciousMasteryCreedsIrrationalGiven UpBelief In GodIrrational Beliefs Author:John Gray
“I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.” MenActionSinCommonWiseMankindYouthFoolOughtAshamedTemperIrrationalRepent Book:Robinson Crusoe Source: Robinson Crusoe
“To feel our character, our personality, and our personal, hard-won history fade from being is to be exposed to whatever lies beneath these comforting, operational conveniences. What remains when the conscious and functioning self has been erased is mankind's fundamental condition – irrational, violent, guilt-wracked, despairing, and mad.” FeelsHas BeensSelfHardCharacterLyingConditionsMankindPersonalityConsciousFundamentalsRemainsMadGuiltViolentExposedFadesIrrationalComfortingConvenience Author:Peter Straub