«Philosophy is not a mere collection of noble
sentiments.
A deluge of such sentiments does more harm than good. [...]
It is not - or, at least, should not be - a ferocious debate
between irritable professors.
It is a survey of possibilities and their comparison with actualities.
In philosophy, the fact, the theory, the alternatives,
and the ideal, are weighed together. Its gifts
are insight and foresight, and a sense
of the worth of life, in short, that sense
of importance which nerves all civilized effort ». (AI, p. 98)