Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humans often go wrong despite reasoning, while animals follow instinct correctly.
- In plain terms
- Thinking too much leads to mistakes, but instinct often works better.
- What can you take from it?
- Trust simple instincts sometimes, as overthinking leads to errors.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When did overthinking hurt you?
- When did instinct help you?
Another view
Reasoning is essential for complex human problems animals can't solve.
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Permalink to quote #1
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