This sense of power is the highest and best of pleasures when the belief on which it is founded is a true belief, and has been fairly earned by investigation.
Interpretation
True enjoyment comes from having earned knowledge through careful investigation.
This quote emphasizes that the feeling of power derived from knowledge is the greatest pleasure, but this power must be anchored in true beliefs that are the result of thorough exploration and inquiry. It suggests that genuine understanding and wisdom emerge from a diligent and honest search for truth.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a philosophy class to ignite discussion about the nature of knowledge.
The aim of scientific thought, then, is to apply past experience to new circumstances; the instrument is an observed uniformity in the course of events. By the use of this instrument it gives us information transcending our experience, it enables us to infer things that we have not seen from things that we have seen; and the evidence for the truth of that information depends on our supposing that the uniformity holds good beyond our experience.
Remember that [scientific thought] is the guide of action; that the truth which it arrives at is not that which we can ideally contemplate without error, but that which we may act upon without fear; and you cannot fail to see that scientific thought is not an accompaniment or condition of human progress, but human progress itself.
Into this, for good or ill, is woven every belief of every man who has speech of his fellows. A awful privilege, and an awful responsibility, that we should help to create the world in which posterity will live.
We may always depend on it that algebra, which cannot be translated into good English and sound common sense, is bad algebra.
It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.
The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched.
If the world is saved, it will not be saved by old minds with new programs but by new minds with no programs at all.
I suppose itβs comfort, perhaps a sense of self-control, doing worse things to yourself than the world will ever dare inflict.
All that I have said up to now has merely been words._x000D_ When people come to see me, I have to say something._x000D_ But it is best not to speak about these matters too much._x000D_ Better to begin practice without delay. _x000D_ I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere._x000D_ Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.
There are so many things that pop up. If you are paying attention, you can learn every second of the day. Life is my guru.
I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
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