The proof of gold is fire, the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman.
There is always a danger of accepting facts as proved which are really nothing of the kind.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.[translation by John Willis Clark]
Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.
Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined – sifted.
Proof is but a fallacy invented by man to justify to himself and his fellows his own crass lust and folly.
In default of any other proof, the thumb would convince me of the existence of a God.
If I shall be condemned upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else but what your jealousies awake, I tell you ’tis rigour and not law.
Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory – let the theory go.
Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing. It may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different.
An alibi gains in force accordingly as it is unwillingly given.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
