Definitions HQ

Error (n.) when ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠great and carried out methodically with universal applause can always be traced to the philosophy reigning at the time.

Error (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is clearly worked out still has value, since it is at least formally correct; a book that is merely vague has none at all.

Error (n.) when ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠clearly thought out is at least formally correct and worth something; a work that is objectively tedious is at all times without value.

Error (n.) removed ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is not something taken from a man but something given him — for knowing that something is wrong is itself a truth; and no error is harmless.

Error (n.) should ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be welcomed when it is finally proclaimed loudly and openly: its falseness will soon be felt just as loudly — it is as if an abscess had burst.

Error (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠always an inference from effect to cause that silently assumes "always" where it should say "sometimes": if there is no money in my safe, my servant must have a key.

Error (n.) may ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠reign a thousand years, yoke whole nations, and chain by its slaves and dupes those it cannot deceive; there is no harmless error, for every error has poison at its heart.