Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901) and Fenton J. A. Hort (1828–1892) published an edition of the New Testament in Greek in 1881. They proposed nine critical rules, including a version of Bengel's rule, "The reading is less likely to be original that shows a disposition to smooth away difficulties." They also argued that "<answer>Readings are approved or rejected by reason of the quality, and not the number, of their supporting witnesses</answer>", and that "The reading is to be preferred that most fitly explains the existence of the others."
What is more important for a textual critic: quality or quantity?
Readings are approved or rejected by reason of the quality, and not the number, of their supporting witnesses