WIST Quotations

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Reasonable,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Dave — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:07:12 +0000

REASONABLE, adj. Accessible to the infection of our own opinions. Hospitable to persuasion, dissuasion and evasion.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Reasonable,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
(Source)

Originally published in the "Cynic's Dictionary" column in the San Francisco Examiner.

Shaw, George Bernard -- Man and Superman, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” “Reason” (1903)

Dave — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:17:54 +0000

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
Man and Superman, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” “Reason” (1903)
(Source)

Drummond, William -- Academical Questions, Preface (1805)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

He, who will not reason, is a bigot; he, who cannot, is a fool; and he, who dares not, is a slave.

William Drummond of Logie-Almond (1770-1828) Scottish classical scholar, philosopher, diplomat, politician
Academical Questions, Preface (1805)
(Source)

Sometimes misattributed to Byron.