Theme

Method philosophy quotes

Philosophy quotations on method, gathered from verified English renderings across traditions.

Why this theme matters

This theme page collects 9 English passages that touch method as a philosophical concern—whether as a concept to define, a value to pursue, or a problem to examine.

In the history of philosophy

Related discussions appear across Greek, Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and modern European traditions. Use the quotations below as entry points, then follow thinker pages for fuller context.

Thinkers in this collection

William of Ockham , René Descartes , Laozi , Hu Shi , Confucius , Alfred North Whitehead , Ludwig Wittgenstein , John Locke

Frequently asked questions

What did philosophers say about method?

They approached method from ethics, metaphysics, politics, and lived practice. The passages below show several of those angles in compact form.

Where can I find philosophy quotes about method?

This archive page is organized for that search intent: verified English quotations, with links to thinkers and related themes.

How should I read these quotations?

Read the sentence first, then check school and source. A quotation is a doorway into an argument, not a substitute for the surrounding text.

  1. Plurality should not be posited without necessity.
  2. Once in a lifetime, everything must be doubted.
  3. Difficult affairs under Heaven must arise from the easy; great affairs under Heaven must arise from the small.
  4. Boldly hypothesize; carefully verify.
  5. The Master said: The craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.
  6. Seek simplicity and distrust it.
  7. Don’t think, but look!
  8. Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.
  9. It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean.