The conservative has little to fear from the man whose reason is the servant of his passions, but let him beware of him in whom reason has become the greatest and most terrible of passions. These are the wreckers of outworn empires.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reason serving passions is dangerous, but passions serving reason are even more terrifying and capable of toppling empires.
- In plain terms
- A person whose passion drives reason is less dangerous than one whose reason drives passion.
- What can you take from it?
- Ideological fervor backed by rational conviction is the most destructive force.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does reason become dangerous?
- What drives change?
Another view
Reason is often the tool of the passionate, not the master.
More from Freeman Dyson
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are n…
Permalink to quote #14 The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple. A good example of a simple technology with profound historical cons…
Permalink to quote #16 A good cause can become bad if we fight for it with means that are indiscriminately murderous. A bad cause can become good if enough people fight for it in a s…
Permalink to quote #13
Related quotes
The average man, if he meddles with criticism at all, is a conservative critic. His opinions are determined not by his reason -- 'the bulk of mankind' says Swi…
A. E. HousmanA. E. Housman quote #3 Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton quote #10 'Another war is always coming: They are never properly extinguished. What sparks war? The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, …
David MitchellDavid Mitchell quote #11