While man's desires and aspirations stir,
He can not choose but err.
[Ger., Es irrt der Mensch read more

While man's desires and aspirations stir,
He can not choose but err.
[Ger., Es irrt der Mensch so lang er strebt.]

By Hercules! I prefer to err with Plato, whom I know how much
you value, than to be right read more

By Hercules! I prefer to err with Plato, whom I know how much
you value, than to be right in the company of such men.
[Lat., Errare mehercule malo cum Platone, quem tu quanti facias,
scio quam cum istis vera sentire.]

Man approaches the unattainable truth through a succession of errors.

Man approaches the unattainable truth through a succession of errors.

The smallest errors are always the best.
[Fr., Les plus courtes erreurs sont toujours les meilleures.]

The smallest errors are always the best.
[Fr., Les plus courtes erreurs sont toujours les meilleures.]

Error is just as important a condition of life as truth

Error is just as important a condition of life as truth

I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as read more

I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that read more

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair

Ah, poor our sex! this fault in us I find,
The error of our eye directs our mind.
read more

Ah, poor our sex! this fault in us I find,
The error of our eye directs our mind.
What error leads must error.

Mistake, error, is the discipline through which we advance.

Mistake, error, is the discipline through which we advance.