"Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths"
- Bertrand Russell
About this Quote
This quote by Bertrand Russell is an amusing criticism of Aristotle's absence of clinical rigor. Russell is indicating that Aristotle's assertion that ladies have fewer teeth than males was based upon absolutely nothing more than his own opinion, which he never bothered to inspect if it was true. This is indicative of the way in which Aristotle's work was typically based on speculation and conjecture instead of empirical proof. Russell's quote likewise works as a reminder that even the most highly regarded thinkers can be incorrect, which it is very important to confirm claims with evidence. This quote is a suggestion that even the most fantastic minds can make mistakes, which it is important to always question and validate claims.