“Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.”
What this quote means
Hume here overturns the traditional hierarchy between reason and emotion. According to him, reason is merely a tool in the service of our desires and passions, not their master. This idea, bold for its time, still resonates today because it acknowledges the power of our affects in our decisions. It invites us not to demonize our emotions but to listen to them, while using reason to satisfy them intelligently. In a world that values logic, this quote reminds us that humans are primarily driven by what they feel.
How to apply it daily
Before an important decision, identify the passion driving you, then use your reason to find the best way to satisfy it, rather than suppressing it.
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