<P> The metaphor of dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants (Latin: nanos gigantum humeris insidentes) expresses the meaning of "discovering truth by building on previous discoveries". This concept has been traced to the 12th century, attributed to Bernard of Chartres . Its most familiar expression in English is by Isaac Newton in 1675: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants ." </P> <P> The attribution to Bernard of Chartres is due to John of Salisbury . In 1159, John wrote in his Metalogicon: "Bernard of Chartres used to compare us to dwarfs perched on the shoulders of giants . He pointed out that we see more and farther than our predecessors, not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted up and borne aloft on their gigantic stature ." </P>

If i am great it is because i stand on the shoulders of giants