--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human experience, which is constantly…" description: "\"Human experience, which is constantly contradicting theory, is the great test of truth. A system, built upon the discoveries of a great many minds, is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/samuel-johnson-50_aids_human-experience-which-is-constantly-con_2204024.jpg" --- # Human experience, which is constantly contradicting… ![“Human experience, which is constantly contradicting theory, is the great test of truth. A system, built upon the discoveries of a great many minds, is always of more strength, than what is produced by the mere workings of any one mind, which, of itself, can do very little. There is not so poor a…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/samuel-johnson-50_aids_human-experience-which-is-constantly-con_2204024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/samuel-johnson-50_aids_human-experience-which-is-constantly-con_2204024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/samuel-johnson-50_aids_human-experience-which-is-constantly-con_2204024.jpg) > “Human experience, which is constantly contradicting theory, is the great test of truth. A system, built upon the discoveries of a great many minds, is always of more strength, than what is produced by the mere workings of any one mind, which, of itself, can do very little. There is not so poor a book in the world that would not be a prodigious effort were it wrought out entirely by a single mind, without the aid of prior investigators.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human experience tests truth more than theory; collective knowledge surpasses individual effort. **In simple terms:** Experience validates truth; collaboration outperforms solo work. Key Takeaway Value collaborative inquiry. Themes philosophy knowledge collaboration truth education Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic research - team projects - public policy formation - community learning Key Concepts empiricism collective intelligence intellectual humility systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure diverse voices shape knowledge? - How does collaboration improve decision quality? A Different Perspective Individual insight is limited without shared context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aids/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Contradicting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradicting/) [Contradicting Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradicting-theory-4853322/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Investigators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigators/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Prodigious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigious/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Test Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-truth-345746/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-great-4465172/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The theory in great families was 'why work if you don't have to.' 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But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/norway-too-has-noble-prospects-and-lapland-is-remarkable-for/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I should as soon think of contradicting a bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-should-as-soon-think-of-contradicting-a-bishop/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A tribulation gives you the opportunity to test a truth you have always believed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/a-tribulation-gives-you-the-opportunity-to-test-a-truth-you-have/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [Reason is the test of ridicule, not ridicule the test of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-warburton/reason-is-the-test-of-ridicule-not-ridicule-the-test-of-truth/) [William Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-warburton/) > [It is said that ridicule is the test of truth; but it is never applied except when we wish to deceive ourselves - when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/it-is-said-that-ridicule-is-the-test-of-truth-but-it-is-never-applied/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [ \[W\]hen men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe . . . that the best test of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-holmes/w-hen-men-have-realized-that-time-has-upset-many-fighting-faiths-they/) [Justice Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-holmes/) > [Sincerity is not test of truth-no evidence of correctness of conduct. You may take poison sincerely believing it the needed medicine, but will it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/sincerity-is-not-test-of-truth-no-evidence-of-correctness-of-conduct/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Ridicule is the best test of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [When men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe... that the ultimate good desired is better reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/when-men-have-realized-that-time-has-upset-many-fighting-faiths-they/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [“That which is true must be infinite and eternal. That is the one test of truth. It never decays, it is always the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-which-is-true-must-be-infinite-and-eternal-that-is-the-one-test/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The test of truth in life is not whether we can remember what we learned in school, but whether we are prepared for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-schleicher/the-test-of-truth-in-life-is-not-whether-we-can-remember-what-we/) [Andreas Schleicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-schleicher/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I donated blood today. That's what I call getting an AIDS test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-donated-blood-today-that-s-what-i-call-getting-an-aids-test/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. 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