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

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

I cannot sufficiently admire the eminence of those men's wits, that have received and held it to be true, and with the sprightliness of their judgments offered such violence to their own senses, as that they have been able to prefer that which their reason dictated to them, to that which sensible experiments represented most manifestly to the contrary. ...I cannot find any bounds for my admiration, how that reason was able in Aristarchus and Copernicus, to commit such a rape on their senses, as in despite thereof to make herself mistress of their credulity.

(T)he increase of known truths stimulates the investigation, establishment, and growth of the arts.

La mayor sabiduría que existe es conocerse a uno mismo.