346 Quotes About Rationality

[I]t is rather the case that we desire something because we believe it to be good than that we believe a thing to be good because we desire it. It is the thought that starts things off.

A true rationalist ought to be effective in the real world.

If you want to get men to act reasonably, you must set about persuading them in a maniacal manner.

Doing worse with more knowledge means you are doing something very wrong.

If the box contains a diamond,I desire to believe that the box contains a diamond;If the box does not contain a diamond,I desire to believe that the box does not contain a diamond;Let me not become attached to beliefs I may not want.

I consider it rational to not tell them the truth.

Fisher just stood there lost in thought, without saying anything. There is always a rational explanation for everything in this world - whether it's the true one or not. Maybe it is better so. ("I'm Dangerous Tonight")

Undoubtely, modern Science is rational and the scientific method is based on rationality. But rationality is a wider concept, and it can explore what is beyond the scope of Science and its method.

Why make yourself miserable saying things like, "Why do we have such bad luck? What has God done to us? What have we done to deserve this?" - all of which, if you understand reality and take it completely into your heart, are irrelevant and unsolvable. They are just things that nobody can know. Your situation is just an accident of life.