The three states of the caterpillar, larva, and butterfly have, since the time of the Greek poets, been applied to typify the human being,--its terrestrial form, apparent death, and ultimate celestial destination. Humphry Davy More Quotes by Humphry Davy More Quotes From Humphry Davy Fortunately science, like that nature to which it belongs, is neither limited by time nor by space. It belongs to the world, and is of no country and no age. The more we know, the more we feel our ignorance; the more we feel how much remains unknown. Humphry Davy space ignorance country Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort. Humphry Davy smile family life Nothing is so dangerous to the progress of the human mind than to assume that our views of science are ultimate, that there are no mysteries in nature, that our triumphs are complete and that there are no new worlds to conquer. Humphry Davy progress views mind The most important of my discoveries have been suggested to me by failures. Humphry Davy failure important discovery I have learned more from my mistakes than from my successes. Humphry Davy enough-chances mistake sports Cavendish was a great Man with extraordinary singularities-His voice was squeaking his manner nervous He was afraid of strangers & seemed when embarrassed to articulate with difficulty-He wore the costume of our grandfathers. Was enormously rich but made no use of his wealth... He Cavendish lived latterly the life of a solitary, came to the Club dinner & to the Royal Society: but received nobody at his home. He was acute sagacious & profound & I think the most accomplished British Philosopher of his time. Humphry Davy home men thinking Every discovery opens a new field for investigation of facts, shows us the imperfection of our theories. It has justly been said, that the greater the circle of light, the greater the boundary of darkness by which it is surrounded. Humphry Davy light discovery science We can trace back our existence almost to a point. Former time presents us with trains of thoughts gradually diminishing to nothing. But our ideas of futurity are perpetually expanding. Our desires and our hopes, even when modified by our fears, seem to grasp at immensity. This alone would be sufficient to prove the progressiveness of our nature, and that this little earth is but a point from which we start toward a perfection of being. Humphry Davy train-of-thought perfection ideas Oh, most magnificent and noble Nature! Humphry Davy mysterious-ways men science We must reason in natural philosophy not from what we hope, or even expect, but from what we perceive. Humphry Davy natural reason philosophy Experimental science hardly ever affords us more than approximations to the truth; and whenever many agents are concerned we are in great danger of being mistaken. Humphry Davy agents mistaken danger Nothing tends so much to the advancement of knowledge as the application of a new instrument. Humphry Davy advancement science knowledge Language is not only the vehicle of thought, it is a great and efficient instrument in thinking. Humphry Davy statistics language thinking By science calmed, over the peaceful soul, Bright with eternal Wisdom's lucid ray, Peace, meek of eye, extends her soft control, And drives the puny Passions far away. Humphry Davy passion eye wisdom The whole language of nature informs us, that in animated beings there is something above our powers of investigation; something which employs, combines, and arranges the gross elements of matter - a spark of celestial fire, by which life is kindled and preserved, and which, if even the instruments it employs are indestructible in their essence, must itself, of necessity, be immortal. Humphry Davy nature essence fire The well-mannered man never puts out his hand in greeting until a lady extends hers. This is a test of good breeding that is constantly applied. ... The first move in the direction of cordiality must come from the lady, the whole code of behaviour being based on the assumption that she is the social superior. Humphry Davy men hands moving Consistency in opinion is the slow poison of intellectual life, the destroyer of its vividness and energy. Humphry Davy consistency energy intellectual It must always be borne in mind that the assumption of woman's social superiority lies at the root of these rules of conduct. Humphry Davy women roots lying James Watt was equally distinguished as a natural philosopher and chemist; his inventions demonstrate his profound knowledge of those sciences, and that peculiar characteristic of genius - the union of them for practical application. Humphry Davy genius peculiar profound The beginning of civilisation is the discovery of some useful arts, by which men acquire property, comforts, or luxuries. The necessity or desire of preserving them leads to laws and social institutions. The discovery of peculiar arts gives superiority to particular nations ... to subjugate other nations, who learn their arts, and ultimately adopt their manners;- so that in reality the origin as well as the progress and improvement of civil society is founded in mechanical and chemical inventions. Humphry Davy science reality art
