The most considerable difference I note among men is not in their readiness to fall into error, but in their readiness to acknowledge these inevitable lapses.

There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.

Logical consequences are the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men.

The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin.

The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.

Logical consequences are the scare-crows of fools and the beacons of wise men