"There are two ways of looking at our duty in the matter of opinion ... We must know the truth, and we must avoid error. These are are first and great commandments as would-be knowers; but they are not two ways of stating an identical commandment, they are two separable laws.

Clifford's exhortation has to my ears a thoroughly fantastic sound. It is like a general informing his soldiers that it is better to keep out of battle forever than to risk a single wound. Not so are victories either over enemies or over nature gained. Our errors are surely not such awful solemn things. In a world where we are so certain to incur them in spite of all our caution, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousnes on their behalf."