In the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.
In plain words
One person thinking clearly beats a thousand people just agreeing.
Where these words come from
- 85% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- Third Letter on Sunspots, December 1612, defending his own telescope observations against inherited authority; Wikiquote-sourced.
- Third Letter on Sunspots
- 1612 · defending his sunspot observations against critics citing old authorities
More from Galileo Galilei
See allI have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.
Galileo GalileiAll truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.Galileo GalileiIf you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would look to you more splendid than the moon.Galileo GalileiThere is, in nature, perhaps nothing older than motion.Galileo Galilei
Galileo GalileiAll truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.Galileo GalileiIf you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would look to you more splendid than the moon.Galileo GalileiThere is, in nature, perhaps nothing older than motion.Galileo GalileiMore on wisdom
It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.
Louisa May AlcottHe who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.
ZhuangziIt is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
AesopPlato is my friend — Aristotle is my friend — but my greatest friend is truth.
Isaac NewtonThe great gain would be freedom of thought.
Maria MitchellIn the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun Tzu
Louisa May AlcottHe who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.ZhuangziIt is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.AesopPlato is my friend — Aristotle is my friend — but my greatest friend is truth.Isaac NewtonThe great gain would be freedom of thought.Maria MitchellIn the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.Sun Tzu