June 17, 2010

Conceiving of Many Errors

The passage below is from Umberto Eco's wonderful book The Name of the Rose:

".....you are still far from the solution........"

"I am very close to one," William said, "but I don't know which."

"Therefore you don't have a single answer to your questions?"

"Adso, if I did I would teach theology in Paris."

"In Paris do they always have the true answer?"

"Never," William said, "but they are very sure of their errors."

"And you," I said with childish impertinence, "never commit errors?"

"Often", he answered. "But instead of conceiving only one, I imagine many, so I become the slave of none."

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