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
The known is finite, the unknown infinite; spiritually we find ourselves on a tiny island in the middle of a boundless ocean of the inexplicable. It is our task, from generation to generation, to drain a small amount of additional land.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the difference between what we currently understand and the vastness of what remains unknown, highlighting our continuous quest for knowledge.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley reflects on the finite nature of human knowledge and the infinite realm of the unknown. He uses the metaphor of a tiny island surrounded by an expansive ocean to illustrate how our understanding of the world is limited, and suggests that it is humanity's ongoing responsibility to explore and expand our knowledge, even if only slightly, with each generation. This pursuit of knowledge not only shapes our lives but also contributes to the collective human experience.
Themes
KnowledgeUnknownInfiniteExplorationUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing the importance of scientific research, one could use this quote to highlight the need for continued exploration.
More from Thomas Huxley
All quotes →The child who has been taught to make an accurate elevation, plan, and section of a pint pot has had an admirable training in accuracy of eye and hand.
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Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
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The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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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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