Explanation: Aristotle, the great master of reasoning, cautions us, ess and with great weight and propriety, against this species of delusive geometrical accuracy in moral arguments as the most fallacious of all sophistry.

Answer: The lines have been extracted from Edmund Burke’s “Speech on Conciliation with America”, an unforgettable piece in the tradition of British parliamentary speeches. Here Burke points out that theories and principles are important in life but seeking extreme accuracy is absurd.

Burke was a practical politician; politics to him was an entirely pragmatic science. Therefore, whenever a problem presented itself to him, he studied facts and drew conclusions from them. He was always averse to theories. He possesses the penetrating insight of a thinking politician and understands that self-interest is man’s motivator in action – “Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.” He rightly understands that in the political sphere give and take principle exerts a dominant force. He observes that no man fights for subtle theories. Everyone acts from the motive of profit and loss. Practical wisdom is the guide to success. He cites the example of Aristotle, the great disciple of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, and the father of rational thinking. Burke says that even the great master of reasoning warns men against applying too much importance to mere theories. Theories and principles are important in life but a geometrical accuracy of these principles is an absurd attempt. Practical wisdom is the safest guide. What Burke points out is that a reasonable amount of political liberty will only go to strengthen rather than weaken the imperial power of England. Such a step will produce the greatest satisfaction without any craving for the abstract idea of liberty; the chances are that America will not go to the extreme length of seeking exemption from legislation by England. Burke’s pragmatic outlook is evident in the quoted lines.