Famous Instinct Quotes in English

Here is a list of famous instinct quotes in English, along with a detailed explanation of their meanings:
1. "Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Meaning: Emerson, a transcendentalist philosopher, is emphasizing the power of intuition. He suggests that even when you cannot logically explain why you feel a certain way, trusting your instincts is important because they come from a deep, often subconscious understanding of the world. It highlights the belief that inner wisdom can sometimes be more reliable than rational thinking.

2. "Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored." — Agatha Christie

  • Meaning: Agatha Christie, the famous mystery writer, reflects on how instincts can guide people in ways that logic might not. While we might not always understand why we have certain feelings or hunches, they are powerful and can often reveal truths that are not immediately obvious. This quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and listening to those instinctual feelings.

3. "A woman knows by intuition, or instinct, what is best for herself." — Marilyn Monroe

  • Meaning: Marilyn Monroe is expressing the idea that women often have a strong sense of intuition when it comes to understanding their own needs and what is best for them. This quote highlights the power of instinct, particularly in personal decisions, and suggests that trusting this internal guide can lead to better outcomes.

4. "Instinct is the nose of the mind." — Madame de Staël

  • Meaning: Madame de Staël, a French woman of letters, uses a metaphor to suggest that instinct serves as a sense for the mind, just as the nose is a sense organ for smell. Just as the nose can detect things we cannot see, instinct helps us sense things beyond the reach of logical reasoning. It implies that instinct can lead the way in situations where facts or reason fall short.

5. "Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next." — Jonas Salk

  • Meaning: Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, is highlighting the relationship between intuition and rational thought. He suggests that while the thinking mind is responsible for solving problems and making decisions, intuition often provides the initial clue or direction. This underscores the idea that instinct plays a crucial role in guiding logical thinking.

6. "Instinct is a lie, told by an inner voice." — Jonathan Kellerman

  • Meaning: In this quote, Kellerman, a psychologist and novelist, offers a more critical view of instinct. He suggests that sometimes our instincts might mislead us, as they are shaped by subconscious biases or fears. This quote brings a note of caution, indicating that while instinct can be useful, it’s not always trustworthy and can sometimes deceive us.

7. "Reason is our soul’s left hand, faith her right. By these we reach divinity." — John Donne

  • Meaning: John Donne, the metaphysical poet, compares reason and faith (or instinct) to two hands. He suggests that reason is logical and analytical, while faith—closely linked to instinct—is more intuitive. Both are necessary for a full understanding of life. This quote emphasizes the balance between logic and instinct in the search for truth.

8. "Instinct is action taken in pursuance of a purpose, but without conscious perception of what the purpose is." — George Santayana

  • Meaning: George Santayana, a philosopher, explains that instincts drive actions aimed at achieving certain goals, even though we might not be fully aware of what those goals are. Instincts guide behavior toward a purpose that isn’t always immediately clear to our conscious mind. It suggests that instincts operate beneath the surface, often outside of our conscious understanding.

9. "The only real valuable thing is intuition." — Albert Einstein

  • Meaning: Einstein, one of the most famous scientists in history, is suggesting that intuition (or instinct) plays a key role in scientific discovery. Although science relies heavily on logic and evidence, Einstein acknowledges that many breakthroughs begin with a hunch or gut feeling, which later proves to be right. He places great value on this non-logical, instinctive process in the pursuit of knowledge.

10. "Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself." — Oprah Winfrey

  • Meaning: Oprah Winfrey emphasizes that instincts are often a source of deep wisdom. She encourages people to trust their gut feelings, as they reflect our inner truths and lead us to make better decisions. According to her, instincts are a way for wisdom—coming from life experiences, intuition, and emotional intelligence—to manifest and guide us.

11. "Instinct is untaught ability." — Alexander Bain

  • Meaning: Alexander Bain, a philosopher and psychologist, is pointing out that instincts are natural abilities that we don’t learn through education or experience. They are inherent and come to us without formal training. This quote emphasizes the idea that instinct is a natural, built-in faculty that guides us without the need for deliberate thought.

12. "Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms." — George Eliot

  • Meaning: While this quote by George Eliot (a pen name for Mary Ann Evans) doesn’t directly mention instinct, it relates to the idea that animals live primarily through their instincts. Their lack of judgment and questioning represents the purity and simplicity of instinct-driven behavior. This quote highlights the contrast between the human tendency to overthink and animals’ reliance on natural instincts.

13. "Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s." — Billy Wilder

  • Meaning: Billy Wilder, a famous filmmaker, advises that it’s better to follow your instincts and make your own mistakes than to rely on others' advice and potentially make their mistakes. This quote highlights the importance of personal responsibility and suggests that trusting your instincts, even if it leads to errors, is more empowering than following someone else’s lead blindly.

14. "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant." — Albert Einstein

  • Meaning: Einstein is once again emphasizing the balance between intuition (instinct) and reason. He describes the intuitive mind as a "sacred gift," meaning that it holds a special, almost divine place in human thought. The rational mind, while valuable, serves a more practical and supportive role. This quote underscores the idea that instinct is a powerful and important guide, even in scientific and intellectual endeavors.

15. "Your heart knows things that your mind can't explain." — Unknown

  • Meaning: This quote expresses the idea that instinct often comes from a deeper emotional place, beyond the reach of logical reasoning. It suggests that feelings, hunches, and gut reactions are powerful guides that shouldn’t be dismissed just because they can’t be easily rationalized. The heart, as a symbol of emotions and intuition, "knows" things that the mind, with all its logic, cannot always comprehend.

    These quotes together reflect the timeless human debate about the role of instinct in decision-making and how much we should trust our gut feelings versus relying on reason.

    Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.

    - Malcolm Gladwell Quotes

    I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled [poets] to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.

    - Socrates Quotes

    Creativity comes from trust.  Trust your instincts.

    - Quote by Rita Mae Brown

    The wise are instructed by reason; ordinary minds by experience; the stupid, by necessity; and brutes by instinct.

    - Instinct Quotes by Cicero

    It is only by following your deepest instinct that you can lead a rich life, and if you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct, then your life will be safe, expedient and thin.

    - Instinct Quotes by Katharine Butler Hathaway

    There can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis.

    - Instinct Quotes by Malcolm Gladwell

    If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it.  If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence.  The origin of myths is explained in this way.

    - Instinct Quotes by Bertrand Russell