Thomas Reid Quote

The mathematician pays not the least regard either to testimony or conjecture, but deduces everything by demonstrative reasoning, from his definitions and axioms. Indeed, whatever is built upon conjecture, is improperly called science; for conjecture may beget opinion, but cannot produce knowledge.


Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, Essay I, Chapter III (p. 46), Printed for John Bell. 1785


The mathematician pays not the least regard either to testimony or conjecture, but deduces everything by demonstrative reasoning, from his...

The mathematician pays not the least regard either to testimony or conjecture, but deduces everything by demonstrative reasoning, from his...

The mathematician pays not the least regard either to testimony or conjecture, but deduces everything by demonstrative reasoning, from his...

The mathematician pays not the least regard either to testimony or conjecture, but deduces everything by demonstrative reasoning, from his...