An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet More Quotes by Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet More Quotes From Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet Truth like a torch, the more 'tis shock, it shines. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet torches shining truth The pursuit of knowledge is but a course between two ignorances, as human life is itself only a wayfaring from grave to grave. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet ignorance life-is two In our natural body every part has a necessary sympathy with every other; and all together form, by their harmonious conspiration, a healthy whole. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet health body together There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice. Each to a certain extent supposes the other. Theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet distinction theory practice Logic is the science of the laws of thought, as thought,--that is of the necessary conditions to which thought considered in itself is a subject. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet logic subjects law Metaphysics, in whatever latitude the term be taken, is a science, or complement of sciences, exclusively occupied with mind. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet metaphysics taken mind Read much, but not many works. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet reading Be sober, and to doubt prepense, Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet good-sense sober doubt A judgment is the mental act by which one thing is affirmed or denied of another. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet denied one-thing judgment There are two sorts of ignorance: we philosophize to escape ignorance; we start from the one, we repose in the other; they are the goals from which and to which we tend; and the pursuit of knowledge is but a course between two ignorances, as human life is only a traveling from grave to grave. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet ignorance goal two Consummated science is positively humble. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet positively humble science