I will follow my logic, no matter where it goes, after it has consulted with my heart. If you ever come to a conclusion without calling the heart in, you will come to a bad conclusion.
Robert Green IngersollRead
Ignorance worships mystery; reason explains it; the one grovels, the other soars.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the contrast between ignorance and knowledge, suggesting that ignorance leads to submission while understanding allows for elevation.
In this quote, Ingersoll contrasts two ways of relating to the unknown: worship through ignorance and understanding through reason. While ignorance often leads to fear and submission in the face of mystery, reasoning allows individuals to rise above their limitations, encouraging exploration and enlightenment. This emphasizes the importance of knowledge and understanding in achieving personal growth and intellectual freedom.
Themes
IgnoranceReasonKnowledgeMysteryUnderstandingGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation on education reform, one might quote Ingersoll to emphasize the importance of critical thinking.
More from Robert Green Ingersoll
All quotes βIf the guardians of society, the protectors of 'young persons,' could have had their way, we should have known nothing of Byron or Shelley. The voices that thrill the world would now be silent.
Robert Green IngersollRead
The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and a curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket is hardly worth making.
Robert Green IngersollRead
There is no slavery but ignorance.
Robert Green IngersollRead
In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.
Robert Green IngersollRead
I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .
Robert Green IngersollRead
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