rational quotes

Pluralismthat is, the conception that there are many different ends that men may seek and still be fully rational, fully men, capable of understanding each other and sympathising and deriving light from each other.

- Sir Isaiah Berlin
  The Crooked Timber of Humanity,'The Pursuit of the Ideal'.

Fearful and hostile behavior is not rational but neither is it uncommon, either to individuals or to nations, including our own.

-J(ames) William Fulbright
  On the'arrogance of power'of US policy on Vietnam. In the NewYorker, 6 Mar.

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangersthat werereal and immediate wastheprocess of a rational mind.Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All hehad to dowas ask; and as soon ashe did, he would no longer be crazyand would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22, and let out a respectful whistle. 'That's some catch, that Catch-22,' he observed. 'It's the best there is,' Doc Daneeka agreed.

-Joseph Heller
Catch-22, ch.5.

O shame to men! Devil with devil damned Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational.

-John Milton
  Paradise Lost (published1667), bk.2, l.496^8.

They will get it straight one day at the Sorbonne. We shall return at twilight from the lecture Pleased that the irrational is rational.

-Wallace Stevens
  NotesToward A Supreme Fiction,'It Must Give Pleasure'.