45 Quotes by Thomas Reid

The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, for if that fails the chain fails and the object that it has been holding up falls to the ground.

In every chain of reasoning, the evidence of the last conclusion can be no greater than that of the weakest link of the chain, whatever may be the strength of the rest.

The chain is only as strong as its weakestlink, for if that fails the chain fails and the object that it has been holding up falls to the ground.

There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words.

But when, in the first setting out, he takes it for granted without proof, that distinctions found in the structure of all languages, have no foundation in nature; this surely is too fastidious a way of treating the common sense of mankind.

And, if we have any evidence that the wisdom which formed the plan is in the man, we have the very same evidence, that the power which executed it is in him also.

A philosopher is, no doubt, entitled to examine even those distinctions that are to be found in the structure of all languages... in that case, such a distinction may be imputed to a vulgar error, which ought to be corrected in philosophy.

Every indication of wisdom, taken from the effect, is equally an indication of power to execute what wisdom planned.

The rules of navigation never navigated a ship. The rules of architecture never built a house.