Full Idea
The reason why we place any credit in witnesses and historians, is not derived from any connexion, which we perceive a priori, between testimony and reality, but because we are accustomed to find a conformity between them.
Gist of Idea
We think testimony matches reality because of experience, not some a priori connection
Source
David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], X.i.89)
Book Reference
Hume,David: 'Enquiries Conc. Human Understanding, Morals', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1975], p.113
A Reaction
Well he would say that, wouldn't he? If there is no connection in testimony, presumably there can be no a priori connection with private experience, but there is a danger of never getting started, and ending in anti-realism.