“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”

“In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.”

“Sì perché l'autorità dell'opinione di mille nelle scienze non val per una scintilla di ragione di un solo, sì perché le presenti osservazioni spogliano d'autorità i decreti de' passati scrittori, i quali se vedute l'avessero, avrebbono diversamente determinato.For in the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man. Besides, the modern observations deprive all former writers of any authority, since if they had seen what we see, they would have judged as we judge.”

“There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works.”

“The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.”

“One single day of devotion is worth more than a thousand years of worldly life.”