"The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors"

This quote by Thomas Huxley speaks to the significance of the scientific spirit, which is the mindset of interest, suspicion, and openness to new ideas. Huxley is suggesting that the scientific spirit is more valuable than the items of science, such as developments and discoveries. He is also suggesting that blindly thinking in particular facts, without questioning them, can be more harmful than making reasoned mistakes. This is due to the fact that blindly thinking in specific facts can lead to an absence of critical thinking and an aversion to accept new ideas. Huxley's quote encourages us to accept the clinical spirit and to be open to new ideas, even if they might be incorrect. This is since the clinical spirit is vital for development and for the improvement of knowledge.