"When the intensity of emotional conviction subsides, a man who is in the habit of reasoning will search for logical grounds in favour of the belief which he finds in himself"

This quote by Bertrand Russell speaks to the power of emotion and reason in forming beliefs. He recommends that when the intensity of an emotional conviction subsides, an individual who remains in the routine of reasoning will try to find rational grounds to support the belief they have formed. This indicates that emotion and reason can both be used to form beliefs, but that factor should be used to verify those beliefs. Russell is suggesting that feeling can be a powerful incentive, but that it must be tempered by reason in order to form beliefs that are well-grounded and sensible. He is also recommending that it is important to be in the practice of thinking in order to have the ability to effectively evaluate and validate beliefs.