Walter Shandy and Emily St Aubert both use the power of reason to keep their emotions in check, but that is where the similarities end. Emily cares greatly about the sufferings of those around her, while Walter only thinks about why sufferings are brought upon him. Walter and Emily share the attributes of reason and sentimentality, but let these traits govern their actions in very different ways.

Walter Shandy is a highly reasonable man. He knows much of the great old philosophers, ancient texts, and scientific breakthroughs. This love of reason tends to make Walter lose his sentimental qualities. Take for instance the episode where he learns of his son Bobby's death:

"My father managed his affliction...indeed differently from most men either ancient or modern; for he neither wept it away...or slept it off...or hang'd it, or drowned it, nor did he curse it, or...