I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of truthfulness in making assertions or claims. It suggests that if someone asserts something without knowing whether it is true or false, they are essentially being dishonest. Even if their assertion happens to be accidentally true, it shouldn't be used as a justification for their initial lack of knowledge or intention to deceive. The quote highlights the ethical principle that honesty requires us to only make assertions when we have adequate information and certainty about their truthfulness.

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