Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
Reason has seldom failed us because it has seldom been tried.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reason is often overlooked as a tool for understanding and solving problems.
This quote by Edward Abbey suggests that people frequently neglect the power of reason in decision-making and problem-solving. It implies that if individuals would just apply reason more often, they would find it to be a reliable guide, hinting at the human tendency to rely on emotion or tradition over rational thought.
Themes
ReasonRationalityDecision MakingWisdomUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about climate change, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of rational discussion over emotional arguments.
More from Edward Abbey
All quotes βI love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
Edward AbbeyRead
If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
Edward AbbeyRead
The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
Edward AbbeyRead
I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
Edward AbbeyRead
Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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