It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
Extinguished theologians lie about the cradle of every science as the strangled snakes beside that of Hercules; and history records that whenever science and orthodoxy have been fairly opposed, the latter has been forced to retire from the lists, bleeding and crushed if not annihilated; scotched, if not slain.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that science often overcomes traditional beliefs, which can be rigid and resistant to change.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley highlights the historical conflict between scientific inquiry and orthodox beliefs, implying that science is a progressive force that challenges and often prevails over outdated ideologies. He metaphorically compares extinguished theologians to defeated opponents of science, emphasizing how established beliefs must yield in the face of evidence and reason, ultimately depicting science as a vital force for discovery and understanding in human history.
Themes
ScienceOrthodoxyTruthConflictKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on the importance of scientific method versus tradition.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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