Neither irony or sarcasm is argument. Samuel Butler More Quotes by Samuel Butler More Quotes From Samuel Butler There are two classes [of scientists], those who want to know, and do not care whether others think they know or not, and those who do not much care about knowing, but care very greatly about being reputed as knowing. Samuel Butler scienceknowledgethinking If [science] tends to thicken the crust of ice on which, as it were, we are skating, it is all right. If it tries to find, or professes to have found, the solid ground at the bottom of the water it is all wrong. Our business is with the thickening of this crust by extending our knowledge downward from above, as ice gets thicker while the frost lasts; we should not try to freeze upwards from the bottom. Samuel Butler icescienceknowledge Men of Science. If they are worthy of the name they are indeed about God's path and about his bed and spying out all his ways. Samuel Butler godmenscience There is no such source of error as the pursuit of absolute truth. Samuel Butler errorstruthscience Nature. As the word is now commonly used it excludes nature's most interesting productions-the works of man. Nature is usually taken to mean mountains, rivers, clouds and undomesticated animals and plants. I am not indifferent to this half of nature, but it interests me much less than the other half. Samuel Butler naturetakenmean There are two great rules of life; the one general and the other particular. The first is that everyone can, in the end, get what he wants, if he only tries. That is the general rule. The particular rule is that every individual is, more or less, an exception to the rule. Samuel Butler exception-to-the-ruletryingtwo Whatsoever we perpetrate, we do but row; we are steered by fate. Samuel Butler fatedestiny Brigands will demand your money or your life, but a woman will demand both Samuel Butler women-bashingdemandmaturity I believe that he was really sorry that people would not believe he was sorry that he was not more sorry. Samuel Butler regretsorrybelieve Business should be like religion and science; it should know neither love nor hate. Samuel Butler hateshouldscience When people talk of atoms obeying fixed laws, they are either ascribing some kind of intelligence and free will to atoms or they are talking nonsense. There is no obedience unless there is at any rate a potentiality of disobeying. Samuel Butler lawtalkingscience It is death, and not what comes after death, that men are generally afraid of. Samuel Butler atheismfearmen This world is like Noah's Ark. Samuel Butler atheismfearmen Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him. Samuel Butler firehomemen Man, unlike the animals, has never learned that the sole purpose of life is to enjoy it. Samuel Butler natureanimalmen All philosophies, if you ride them home, are nonsense, but some are greater nonsense than others. Samuel Butler philosophicalhomephilosophy Be virtuous and you will be vicious. Samuel Butler viciousvirtuous The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance. Samuel Butler prideignorancecharacter Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance. Samuel Butler inspirationalmovingreligion Sensible people get the greater part of their own dying done during their own lifetime Samuel Butler dyingdonepeople
