The floating of other men's opinions in our brains, makes us not one jot the more knowing, though they happen to be true.

What in them was science, is in us but opiniatrety; whilst we give up our assent only to reverend names, and do not, as they did, employ our own reason to understand those truths which gave them reputation.

Aristotle was certainly a knowing man, but nobody ever thought him so because he blindly embraced, and confidently vented the opinions of another.

And if the taking up of another's principles, without examining them, made not him a philosopher, I suppose it will hardly make anybody else so.

In the sciences, every one has so much as he really knows and comprehends.