Franz Boas Quotes

The very essence of rationalism is that it assumes that the reason is the highest faculty in man and the lord of all the rest.

The truth is, man is hereunto led by reason which is his nature.

The concept of reason itself appears as an artificial attempt to separate intellectual powers from the frustrations, emotions, and accidents which cause events; the concept of reason is viewed as facade to prevent change.

It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.

People are born with the ability to make judgments. And they can't help but use the information they have to divine something about the world they're in. Making categorical judgments, in large, helps our society.

Reason is the shepherd trying to corral life's vast flock of wild irrationalities.

Man is a rational animal – so at least I have been told. Throughout a long life, I have looked diligently for evidence in favour of this statement, but so far I have not had the good fortune to come across it, though I have searched in many countries spread over three continents.

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

To the extent to which a man is rational, life is the premise directing his actions. To the extent to which he is irrational, the premise directing his actions is death.

It's just human nature to try and figure things out. So, when we're in the midst of a situation, we usually try to reason our way through it.

Among intellectuals who consider themselves 'scientific,' the phrase 'the nature of man' is apt to have the effect of a red flag on a bull.

Everything is reason. If you don't have reason, you have nothing.

What we showed you was you can have analytic reasoning that can be passionate.

We are speaking to the intelligence of Canadians, not to their emotion.

I don't make decisions with my heart, I use my brain to think things through.

Italians think with their heads.

We all have a limited amount of good judgment.

I also doubt a man can give really clear reasons for anything.

Reason shows itself in all occurrences of life; whereas the brute makes no discovery of such a talent, but in what immediately regards his own preservation or the continuance of his species.

We accept that people are irrational for good Darwinian reasons. But I don't think we should be so pessimistic as to think that therefore we're forever condemned to be irrational.

Logicians have but ill defined As rational the human mind; Reason, they say, belongs to man, But let them prove it if they can.

We are thinking beings, and we cannot exclude the intellect from participating in any of our functions.

Science is not a substitute for common sense, but an extension of it.

Reason and the reasoning faculty need no foreign assistance, but are sufficient for their own purposes. They move within themselves, and make directly for the point in view. Wherefore, acts in accordance with them are called right acts, for they lead along the right road.

The world of reason is to be regarded as a great and immortal being, who ceaselessly works out what is necessary, and so makes himself lord also over what is accidental.