But as records of courts of justice are admissible, it can…
““But as records of courts of justice are admissible, it can easily be proved that powerful and malevolent magicians once existed and were a scourge to mankind. The evidence (including confession) upon which certain women were convicted of witchcraft and executed was without a flaw; it is still unimpeachable. The judges' decisions based on it were sound in logic and in law. Nothing in any existing court was ever more thoroughly proved than the charges of witchcraft and sorcery for which so many suffered death. If there were no witches, human testimony and human reason are alike destitute of value.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that the legal proof of witchcraft was so convincing that it shows how human testimony and reason can be unreliable when evidence is flawed.
In simple terms: Legal proof of witchcraft reveals limits of testimony.
Key Takeaway
Question evidence critically.
Themes
law
justice
human nature
truth
skepticism
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- court trials
- historical witch hunts
- modern legal proceedings
- media reporting
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
epistemic fallacy
jurisprudence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we ensure evidence is truly reliable?
- What modern parallels exist for "witchcraft" accusations?
A Different Perspective
Even strong evidence can be misleading if underlying assumptions are false.