In the first place, repeated confirmation in experience brings the induction, upon which the hypothesis rests, so near completeness that in practice it takes the place of certainty, and is regarded as diminishing the value of the hypothesis, its source, just as little as the incommensurability of straight and curved lines diminishes the value of the application of geometry, or that perfect exactness of the logarithm, which is not attainable, diminishes the value of arithmetic.
Egiaztapen enpiriko anitzak dakar indukzioa, zeinaren gainean oinarritzen baita hipotesia, perfekziotik hain hurbilera, zeinek praxirako ziurtasunaren lekua hartzen baitu, eta hipotesiari hain kalte txikia egiten baitio bere jatorriak, nola geometriaren erabilerari lerro zuzen eta kurboen elkarneurgaiztasunak edo aritmetikari logaritmoaren ezin lortuzko zuzentasun perfektuak: