"I do not villify theory and speculation--no, because that would be to villify reason itself. Neque decipitur ratio, neque decipit unquam.[Reason is not decieved, nor does it ever decieve.] No; whenever I speak against theory, I mean always a weak, erroneous, fallacious, unfounded or imperfect theory; and one of the ways of discovering, that it is a false theory, is by comparing it with practice. This is the true touchstone of all theories, which regard man and the affairs of men--does it suit his nature in general;--does it suit his nature as modified by his habits?"
Edmund Burke, Reform of Representation, 1782
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