William Hamilton Quotes

In the last analysis sound judgment will prevail.

Bein logical gave me a reason to doubt

Common sense is very uncommon.

When we examine the opinions of men, we find that nothing is more uncommon than common sense; or, in other words, they lack judgment to discover plain truths or to reject absurdities and palpable contradictions.

Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality.

Why is it that common sense is seldom common practice?

We've lost common sense.

On the road halfway between faith and criticism stands the inn of reason. Reason is faith in what can be understood without faith, but it's still a faith, since to understand presupposes that there's something understandable.

It is for this reason that rationality is of supreme importance to the well-being of the human species...even more, in those less fortunate times in which it is despised and rejected as the vain dream of men who lack the virility to kill where they cannot agree.

It's against reason," said Filby. "What reason?" said the Time Traveller.

Rationality is not just something you do so that you can make more money, it is a binding principle. Rationality is a really good idea. You must avoid the nonsense that is conventional in one's own time. It requires developing systems of thought that improve your batting average over time.

The most uncommon form of intelligence is common sense.

Intelligence alone is not nearly enough when it comes to acting wisely.

Assume nothing, question everything.

Skepticism does not preserve us from foolhardy deeds.

A truly open mind means forcing our imaginations to conform to the evidence of reality, and not vice versa.

Science built the Academy, superstition the Inquisition.

Without the voice of reason, every faith is its own curse.

Faith strikes me as intellectual laziness.

And the quality of good judgement is clearly a form of knowledge and skill, as it is because of knowledge and not because of ignorance that we judge well.

Skepticism rather than credulity is the highest principle that the human intellect can use to ennoble our existence.

Logic is a large drawer, containing some useful instruments, and many more that are superfluous. A wise man will look into it for two purposes, to avail himself of those instruments that are really useful, and to admire the ingenuity with which those that are not so, are assorted and arranged.

What is reasoned has nothing to do with what is reasonable.

In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.

I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.