Quotation
Quote by Georg Forster
Each eradication of one of these is a gain to science; and each vulgar opinion, proved to be erroneous, is an approximation to truth.
Explore the idea
Understanding this quote
The quote says that removing a mistaken idea advances science. When an ordinary or widely held opinion is shown to be wrong, that discovery brings understanding closer to truth. Even a negative result therefore has value: it clears away error and narrows the distance between what people believe and what is true.
Source & trust
About this quotation
- Source
- Wikisource transcription of A Voyage Round the World (1777), Book I, Chapter II
- Format
- Official Statement
Explore the idea
Topics
“We have to invest in curiosity-driven research: research that comes from a simple desire to improve our understanding of the world.”
“If we add what you know to what we know, we may end up with a fuller, better picture.”
“A story that only someone who went through it could be trusted to give.”
Read quote“About matters and things regarding these natives, and even more so with respect to their antiquity, given that we do not have teachers or doctors, it is imperative to follow their testimonies.”
“Nunca la cámara es objetiva.”
“To be a writer does not mean to preach a truth, it means to discover a truth.”
“Nobody who wants to do his work well can ignore criticism, for it points to the wrong that must be avoided in the future.”
“I personally have a feeling that when we do understand how the brain works it’s going to be much simpler than we currently think.”
“When I’m working, I just want to get to the truth—that’s the struggle.”
“I have not traveled to be rich, to be learned, or to entertain myself.”
A Weather of Questions
When her balloon experiment collapses before the school exhibition, retired weather announcer Nadezhda Arin turns failure into a sky-sized investigation.
Read Story