"Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct."

F. H. Bradley Philosophy See all quotes by F. H. Bradley →

React to this quote

More by F. H. Bradley

“I will begin with the self-styled "Christian" party, who profess to base their morality on the New Testament. But whether it is really more Christian to follow or to ignore the teachings of the Gospels I shall not discuss.”

“There are those who so dislike the nude that they find something indecent in the naked truth.”

“The deadliest foe to virtue would be complete self-knowledge.”

“We say that a girl with her doll anticipates the mother. It is more true, perhaps, that most mothers are still but children with playthings.”

“One said of suicide, “As long as one has brains one should not blow them out.” And another answered, “But when one has ceased to have them, too often one cannot.”

“Eclecticism. Every truth is so true that any truth must be false.”

Resonant Thoughts

"The imagination is always restless and suggests a variety of thoughts, and the will, reason being laid aside, is ready for every extravagant project; and in this State, he that goes farthest out of th…"

— John Locke

Philosophy1943–2006

#philosophy

"It's nice to know that people are paying attention to you on the other side of the ball, but it's also kind of sad because you feel like you're a man that's being hunted down by some vicious animal. I…"

— Emmitt Smith

Psychology1969

#philosophy

"The Republican and Democratic parties are alike capitalist parties — differing only in being committed to different sets of capitalist interests — they have the same principles under varying colors, a…"

— Eugene V. Debs

Politics1855–1926

#philosophy

"Put aside political and theological differences between Sunnis and Shiites and focus on the group’s shared fundamental beliefs, such as the oneness of Allah, Muhammad’s role as the prophet of Allah, a…"

— Ammar Nakshawani

Religion1981

#philosophy