Every student who enters upon a scientific pursuit, especially if at a somewhat advanced period of life, will find not only that he has much to learn, but much also to unlearn.
Interpretation
Scientific pursuits require both learning new concepts and letting go of outdated beliefs.
This quote emphasizes the duality of the learning process in science, illustrating that, in addition to acquiring new knowledge, students often must also discard old perceptions or misconceptions that hinder their understanding. John Herschel acknowledges the complex nature of education, especially for those who may have preconceived ideas that need to be reevaluated as they delve deeper into scientific exploration.
In practice
During a lecture on scientific methodology, this quote can highlight the importance of openness to new ideas.
Almost all the greatest discoveries in astronomy have resulted from what we have elsewhere termed Residual Phenomena, of a qualitative or numerical kind, of such portions of the numerical or quantitative results of observation as remain outstanding and unaccounted for, after subducting and allowing for all that would result from the strict application of known principles.
...Nature builds up her refined and invisible architecture, with a delicacy eluding our conception, yet with a symmetry and beauty which we are never weary of admiring.
To the natural philosopher, there is no natural object unimportant or trifling. From the least of Nature's works he may learn the greatest lessons.
It is of no use to commit whole pages to memory, merely to recite them once without hesitation; you must think of the meaning more than the words - of the ideas more than the language.
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
If I am given a formula, and I am ignorant of its meaning, it cannot teach me anything, but if I already know it what does the formula teach me?
I went out of my way to play games I didn't like or find interesting. Those ended up being a lot more informative for me. At home, I have literally thousands of games, and I think of them as pearls of wisdom from my predecessors.
Tell them stories. They need the truth you must tell them true stories, and everything will be well, just tell them stories.
I much prefer working with kids whose life could be completely upended by a reading of a book over a weekend. You give them a book to read - they go home and come back a changed person. And that is so much more interesting and exciting.
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