diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3587a7e..f1eac2f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ git clone https://github.com/samuelkadolph/ruby-sockets
 cd ruby-sockets && rake install
 ```
 
+## Rationale
+
+This gem was created for 2 purposes.
+
+First is to enable ruby programmers to use HTTP or SOCKS proxies interchangeably when using TCPSockets. Either manually with `Sockets::Proxy#open` or by `require "sockets/env"`.
+
+The second purpose is use ruby code that doesn't consider a proxy for users that have to use proxies. The pruby and pirb executables are simple wrappers for their respective ruby executables that support proxies from environment variables.
+
 ## Usage
 
 ### Environment Variables & Executable Wrappers