I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my…
“I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my faith to go no further than my facts. I am pleased, however, to see the efforts of hypothetical speculation, because by the collisions of different hypotheses, truth may be elicited and science advanced in the end.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Science advances through testing ideas; facts limit belief, but speculation sparks discovery.
In simple terms: Facts ground belief; speculation drives progress.
Balance evidence with open inquiry.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- policy making
- innovation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What hypothesis challenges your current facts?
- How do you guard against bias?
Speculation can lead to false conclusions if unchecked.