Certainty Quote by Jean-Baptiste Say
“A science only advances with certainty, when the plan of inquiry and the object of our researches have been clearly defined; otherwise a small number of truths are loosely laid hold of, without their connexion being perceived, and numerous errors, without being enabled to detect their fallacy.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Treatise on Political Economy, 1803
Scientific progress needs clear research goals and methods; vague aims lead to isolated facts and hidden errors.
In simple terms: Clear aims enable reliable science.
Key Takeaway
Define questions before researching.
Themes
science
methodology
clarity
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
instructional
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- product development
- clinical trials
Key Concepts
epistemology
research design
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a well‑posed research question?
- How can we ensure methods align with objectives?
A Different Perspective
Without clear goals, discoveries may be fragmented and misleading.
![“[I]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge in mathematics, in so far as disposed through it we are able to reach certainty in other sciences and truth by the exclusion of error.” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d13/roger-bacon-15067_able_i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-a_24209.jpg)