In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable and must be content with broken portions.

Osler frames truth-seeking—especially in science and medicine—as an asymptotic pursuit. “Absolute truth” is treated as an ideal that guides inquiry but cannot be fully possessed; what we actually obtain are provisional, partial findings (“broken portions”) shaped by limited evidence, imperfect instruments, and changing theories. The remark encourages intellectual humility and patience: progress comes through accumulating fragments, revising them, and resisting dogmatism. It also implies an ethical stance for professionals—clinicians and researchers should act on the best available knowledge while remaining open to correction, recognizing that certainty is rarely complete and that today’s conclusions may be tomorrow’s approximations.