--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We better know there is a fire whence we…" description: "\"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 p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/abraham-lincoln-88_commit_we-better-know-there-is-a-fire-whence-we_2332556.png" --- # We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke… ![“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.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/abraham-lincoln-88_commit_we-better-know-there-is-a-fire-whence-we_2332556.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/abraham-lincoln-88_commit_we-better-know-there-is-a-fire-whence-we_2332556.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/abraham-lincoln-88_commit_we-better-know-there-is-a-fire-whence-we_2332556.png) > “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.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Know Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-smoke-5615801/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Perjury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perjury/) [Perjury Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perjury-smoke-5615800/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Smoke Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke-rising-2322228/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/) [Swearing Witnesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing-witnesses-5615802/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) ## Related quotes > [A boy can see the smoke rising from Sioux villages under the shadow of the Albert memorial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baden-powell-de-aquino/a-boy-can-see-the-smoke-rising-from-sioux-villages-under-the-shadow/) [Baden Powell de Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baden-powell-de-aquino/) > [“I looked at her without a word. 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