Who said “The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.”?

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Aristotle. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceI.5. 271b8-10. This line begins the Prologue of Mortimer J. Adler’s book, Ten Philosophical Mistakes

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“The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.”
— Aristotle
VerifiedI.5. 271b8-10. This line begins the Prologue of Mortimer J. Adler’s book, Ten Philosophical Mistakes · evidenceTruth
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: I.5. 271b8-10. This line begins the Prologue of Mortimer J. Adler’s book, Ten Philosophical Mistakes.

APA

Aristotle (n.d.). The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40283-the-least-initial-deviation-from-the-truth-is/

MLA

Aristotle. “The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40283-the-least-initial-deviation-from-the-truth-is/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Aristotle. “The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40283-the-least-initial-deviation-from-the-truth-is/.

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VerifiedLatin family motto; recorded in James Wood, Dictionary of Quotations (1899), p. 518 · evidenceDetails & citeTruth
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