Wendell Berry quotation

For a long time we humans have fairly successfully (but not invariably) avoided error within our systems of thought, but the systems themselves have often proved to be wrong. That is, our systems have made it possible (within the limits of the systems) to be consistent, but they have not preserved us from error. Our experience suggests that they cannot preserve us from error. Should we regret this? Probably not, since it is always the errors of our systems that have released us (so far) from the tyranny of our systems…. That we are in error means that our plans or systems tend to suffer from the interference of bad surprises – and, let us not forget, also of good surprises.

Wendell Berry, Life is a Miracle