The art of concluding from experience and observation consists in evaluating probabilities, in estimating if they are high or numerous enough to constitute proof. This type of calculation is more complicated and more difficult than one might think. It demands a great sagacity generally above the power of common people. The success of charlatans, sorcerors, and alchemists-and all those who abuse public credulity-is founded on errors in this type of calculation.

I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.

I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, 'Without vanity I may say,' &c., but some vain thing immediately followed. Most people dislike vanity in oth…

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and …

You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 10 or 12 to 1.

Though experience be our only guide in reasoning concerning matters of fact; it must be acknowledged, that this guide is not altogether infallible, but in some…

Science is what we have learned about how not to fool ourselves about the way the world is.