William Whewell Quotes

Hence no force, however great, can stretch a cord, however fine, into a horizontal line which is accurately straight: there will always be a bending downwards.

We cannot observe external things without some degree of Thought; nor can we reflect upon our Thoughts, without being influenced in the course of our reflection by the Things which we have observed.

The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this: our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed.

Those who have obtained the farthest insight into Nature have been, in all ages, firm believers in God.

The catastrophist constructs theories, the uniformitarian demolishes them.

It is a test of true theories not only to account for but to predict phenomena.

In art, truth is a means to an end; in science, it is the only end.

There is a mask of theory over the whole face of nature.

Every man has obligations which belong to his station. Duties extend beyond obligations, and direct the affections, desires, and intentions, as well as the actions.

Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends.

A man really and practically looking onwards to an immortal life, on whatever grounds, exhibits to us the human soul in an enobled attitude.

Geometry in every proposition speaks a language which experience never dares to utter; and indeed of which she but halfway comprehends the meaning.

Conscience is the reason employed about questions of right and wrong.

Man is the interpreter of nature, science the right interpretation.

We need very much a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I should incline to call him a scientist. [The first use of the word.]

Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting form of error.

The person who did most to give to analysis the generality and symmetry which are now its pride, was also the person who made mechanics analytical; I mean Euler.

Astronomy is ... the only progressive Science which the ancient world produced.

...the question undoubtedly is, or soon will be, not whether or no we shall employ notation in chemistry, but whether we shall use a bad and incongruous, or a consistent and regular notation.