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Principles Quotes

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Principles Quotes

“Wonder, connected with a principle of rational curiosity, is the source of all knowledge and discover, and it is a principle even of piety; but wonder which ends in wonder, and is satisfied with wonder, is the quality of an idiot.”

Ends Quality Wonder Principles Source Curiosity Connected Satisfied Rational Idiot Piety

Book:Sermons

Source: Sermons

“There can be no compromise on basic principles. There can be no compromise on moral issues. There can be no compromise on matters of knowledge, of truth, of rational conviction.”

Matter Truth Moral Principles Knowledge Issues Honor Integrity Conviction Rational Compromise Basic Principles Objectivism Moral Issues No Compromise Never Compromise

Book:The Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z

Source: The Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z

“At best the principles that economists have supposed the choices of rational individuals to satisfy can be presented as guidelines for us to consider when we make our decisions.”

Choices Individual Decision Principles Rational Economist Guidelines

Book:A Theory of Justice

Source: A Theory of Justice

“The claim is also sometimes made that science is as arbitrary or irrational as all other claims to knowledge, or that reason itself is an illusion. As Ethan Allen said Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider whether they argue against reason with or without reason; if with reason, then they establish the principle that they are labouring to dethrone. If they argue without reason, which they must do, in order to be consistent with themselves, they are out of reach of rational conviction, nor do they deserve a rational argument.”

Ifs Made Said Sometimes Reason Science Order Principles Ought Illusion Deserve Argument Claims Conviction Arguing Rational Consistent Irrational Arbitrary

Author:Carl Sagan

“Our science is like a store filled with the most subtle intellectual devices for solving the most complex problems, and yet we are almost incapable of applying the elementary principles of rational thought.”

Reason Problem Science Principles Intellectual Filled Complexes Stores Rational Subtle Devices Incapable Rational Thought Complex Problems

Book:Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings

Source: Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings

“There also appears to be another element in the soul, which, though irrational, yet in a manner participates in rational principle.”

Soul Principles Elements Rational Irrational

Book:The Nicomachean ethics

Source: The Nicomachean ethics

“The soul has two parts, one rational and the other irrational. Let us now similarly divide the rational part, and let it be assumed that there are two rational faculties, one whereby we contemplate those things whose first principles are invariable, and one whereby we contemplate those things which admit of variation.”

Firsts Two Soul Principles Rational Faculty Divides Contemplating Irrational Variation

Book:The Nicomachean ethics

Source: The Nicomachean ethics

“In [the soul] one part naturally rules, and the other is subject, and the virtue of the ruler we maintain to be different from that of the subject; the one being the virtue of the rational, and the other of the irrational part. Now, it is obvious that the same principle applies generally, and therefore almost all things rule and are ruled according to nature.”

Different Soul Principles Virtue Subjects All Things Obvious Rational Rulers Irrational

Book:Politics

Source: Politics

“Now the soul of man is divided into two parts, one of which has a rational principle in itself, and the other, not having a rational principle in itself, is able to obey such a principle. And we call a man in any way good because he has the virtues of these two parts.”

Men Way Two Soul Able Principles Virtue Rational Divided

Book:Complete Works of Aristotle, Volume 2: The Revised Oxford Translation

Source: Complete Works of Aristotle, Volume 2: The Revised Oxford Translation

“I often wish for the end of the wretched remnant of my life; and that wish is a rational one; but then the innate principle of self-preservation, wisely implanted in our natures, for obvious purposes, opposes that wish, and makes us endeavour to spin out our thread as long as we can, however decayed and rotten it may be.”

May Long Ends Self Age Death Purpose Wish Principles Obvious Rational Old Age Thread Preservation Wretched Innate Rotten Endeavour Self Preservation Remnants

Author:Lord Chesterfield

“There is no "scientific worldview" just as there is no uniform enterprise "science" - except in the minds of metaphysicians, school masters, and scientists blinded by the achievements of their own particular niche... There is no objective principle that could direct us away from the supermarket "religion" or the supermarket "art" toward the more modern, and much more expensive supermarket "science." Besides, the search for such guidance would be in conflict with the idea of individual responsibility which allegedly is an important ingredient of a "rational" or scientific age.”

“Fashion rests upon folly. Art rests upon law. Fashion is ephemeral. Art is eternal. Indeed what is a fashion really? A fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months! It is quite clear that were it beautiful and rational we would not alter anything that combined those two rare qualities. And wherever dress has been so, it has remained unchanged in law and principle for many hundred years.”

Years Has Beens Art Two Beautiful Form Law Quality Principles Clear Fashion Months Six Eternal Art Is Hundred Dresses Rational Folly Six Months Ugliness Unbearable In-laws Ephemeral

Author:Oscar Wilde