Errors Quote by William F. Buckley, Jr
“The superstition that the hounds of truth will rout the vermin of error seems, like a fragment of Victorian lace, quaint, but too brittle to be lifted out of the showcase.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The American Spectator, 1976
The metaphor of truth hunting error is elegant but fragile, like delicate lace that cannot bear weight.
In simple terms: Truth hunting error is fragile.
Beware over‑reliance on elegant metaphors.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- media analysis
- political commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we test truth without fragile symbols?
- What alternatives replace delicate metaphors?
Elegant metaphors may obscure practical solutions.