To be an intellectually conscious philosopher offers advantages in every way. For our conduct of life flows naturally out of our understanding of life. If the second is faulty, incomplete, or wrong, the first will be so too! For the appraisal of men and the values of things which determine this conduct are themselves determined by our understanding. Sound principles and correct theory afford the best guarantee that when action is taken it will be rightly taken. It is then possible to understand clearly what is being done and why it is being done. Therefore studies in the metaphysics of truth are not wasting time. It is here that the soundness of the philosophic attitude and the quality of its metaphysical knowledge save us on many occasions from falling into grave blunders.
-- Notebooks Category 20: What Is Philosophy? > Chapter 1 : Toward Defining Philosophy > # 165
