"Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason"

Orson Welles’ assertion that man is a rational animal who loses his temper when required to act according to reason reveals a paradox at the core of human nature. The idea of humanity as fundamentally rational has its roots in classical philosophy, Aristotle described man as a “rational animal,” suggesting that our ability to reason distinguishes us from other creatures. Yet, Welles slyly undermines this flattering assessment by highlighting the tendency for people to bristle, become defensive, or even react angrily when confronted with the expectation to behave logically.

This observation touches upon the tension between our rational faculties and our emotional impulses. People often pride themselves on their intelligence and their ability to reason, yet when their behavior is scrutinized or when they are asked to follow a rational course that contradicts their desires, pride, or habits, strong emotions arise. The implicit irony is that while logic ostensibly guides human endeavors, our passions, fears, and egos frequently override it. Welles’s statement suggests that rationality is more an ideal or aspiration than an ingrained trait; reason exists in theory and in rhetoric, but practice often tells a different story.

Beyond the individual, this dynamic plays out in social and political contexts. Calls for rational discourse in public life regularly dissolve into argument, evasion, or outrage, particularly when reasoned debate threatens vested interests or cherished beliefs. Welles’s remark points to a human inclination to resist external rational standards when these standards challenge ingrained behavior or identity. In exposing that the call to be rational can incite irrational reactions, Welles provides both a tongue-in-cheek criticism and a subtle warning: that self-knowledge and humility are necessary if individuals or societies wish to live up to their reputations for reason, rather than simply claiming it as a defining attribute.