Commit Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke rising than we could know it by one or two witnesses swearing to it. The witnesses may commit perjury, but the smoke cannot.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown source, possibly a letter or public address, 19th century
The statement warns that indirect evidence (smoke) is more reliable than limited eyewitness testimony, which may be false, emphasizing the need for corroborating signs.
In simple terms: Smoke is a better proof than a few witnesses.
Key Takeaway
Seek multiple sources before concluding.
Themes
evidence
reliability
truth
critical thinking
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- legal investigations
- journalism
- historical research
Key Concepts
Inductive reasoning
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence do you trust most?
- How can you verify eyewitness accounts?
A Different Perspective
Witnesses can be biased or dishonest.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
