All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own.
Johann Wolfgang Von GoetheRead
The works of Lavoisier and his associates operated upon many of us at that time like the Sun's rising after a night of moonshine: but Chemistry is now betrothed to the Mathematics, and is in consequence grown somewhat shy of her former admirers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Goethe compares the impact of Lavoisier's chemistry to a sunrise, indicating a significant awakening in scientific thought, but notes that chemistry has become more reserved due to its ties with mathematics.
In this quote, Goethe reflects on the transformative influence of Lavoisier and his associates on the field of chemistry, likening their work to the illuminating effect of the sun dispelling the darkness of night. He suggests that while chemistry once thrived in its own right, the increasing intertwining of mathematics has made it more cautious and less accessible to those who once passionately embraced it. This highlights an evolution in the discipline, where mathematical rigor may have overshadowed its more intuitive and experimental roots.
Themes
ChemistryMathematicsScienceTransformationLavoisierNature Of Knowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture discussing the history of chemistry, use this quote to illustrate the shift towards a more mathematical approach.
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