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
When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men are civilized. The people need education - facts - philosophy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that intellect must guide human passions for civilization to thrive, emphasizing the importance of education and philosophy.
In this quote, Robert Green Ingersoll argues that humans can descend into savagery when their desires overpower their rational thinking. He asserts that a civilized society is one where intellect governs passions, highlighting the need for education and philosophical understanding to maintain a structured and harmonious existence. Education serves as a key element that enables individuals to refine their instincts and emotions, ultimately leading to a more enlightened and civilized populace.
Themes
EducationIntellectPassionsPhilosophyCivilization
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about personal development, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of education in controlling one's desires.
More from Robert Green Ingersoll
All quotes →If 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
Similar quotes
When you read a piece of writing that you admire, send a note of thanks to the author.
Sherman AlexieRead
Intelligence tests are biased toward the literate.
George CarlinRead
The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves
Joseph CampbellRead
When the panting and thirsting soul first drinks the delicious waters of truth, when the moral and intellectual tastes and desires first seize the fragrant fruits that flourish in the garden of knowledge, then does the child catch a glimpse and foretaste of heaven.
Horace MannRead
Writing has been an important exercise to clarify what I believe, what I see, what I care about, what my deepest values are. The process of converting a jumble of thoughts into coherent sentences makes you ask tougher questions.
Barack ObamaRead
There are many great authors of the past who have survived centuries of oblivion and neglect, but it is still an open question whether they will be able to survive an entertaining version of what they have to say.
Hannah ArendtRead