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
We live in the hope and faith that, by the advance of molecular physics, we shall by-and-by be able to see our way as clearly from the constituents of water to the properties of water, as we are now able to deduce the operations of a watch from the form of its parts and the manner in which they are put together.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the pursuit of understanding nature through scientific inquiry and the hope that we will eventually grasp complex concepts in a clear manner.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley articulates his aspiration for scientific progress in molecular physics to lead to a clearer understanding of both simple and complex substances, like water. He draws an analogy with how mechanical devices, such as watches, can be understood by examining their parts and assembly, suggesting that the same principle can be applied to understanding nature at a molecular level.
Themes
ScienceMolecular PhysicsUnderstandingNatureInquiry
In practice
Example use cases
In a science conference, one might use this quote to inspire researchers to continue exploring the unknown.
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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