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Home > Dictionary of Science Quotations > Scientist Names Index H > Stephen Hales Quotes

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Stephen Hales
(17 Sep 1677 - 4 Jan 1761)

English botanist, chemist and physiologist.


Science Quotes by Stephen Hales (2 quotes)

The farther researches we make into this admirable scene of things, the more beauty and harmony we see in them: And the stronger and clearer convictions they give us, of the being, power and wisdom of the divine Architect, who has made all things to concur with a wonderful conformity, in carrying on, by various and innumerable combinations of matter, such a circulation of causes, and effects, as was necessary to the great ends of nature. And since we are assured that the all-wise Creator has observed the most exact proportions, of number, weight and measure, in the make of all things; the most likely way therefore, to get any insight into the nature of those parts of the creation, which come within our observation, must in all reason be to number, weigh and measure. And we have much encouragement to pursue this method, of searching into the nature of things, from the great success that has attended any attempts of this kind.
— Stephen Hales
Vegetable Staticks (1727), xxxi.
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We are as yet got little farther than to the surface of things: yet ought we not to be discouraged; though we can never hope to attain to the complete knowledge of the texture, or constituent frame and nature of bodies, yet may we reasonably expect by this method of experiments, to make farther and farther advances abundantly sufficient to reward our pains.
— Stephen Hales
In 'Preface', Statical Essays: Containing Hæmastatics (1769), Vol. 2, ii.
Science quotes on:  |  Advance (298)  |  Attain (126)  |  Body (557)  |  Complete (209)  |  Constituent (47)  |  Discourage (14)  |  Expect (203)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Farther (51)  |  Frame (26)  |  Hope (321)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Little (717)  |  Method (531)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Never (1089)  |  Pain (144)  |  Reward (72)  |  Scientific Method (200)  |  Sufficient (133)  |  Surface (223)  |  Texture (8)  |  Thing (1914)


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  • 17 Sep - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Hales's birth.

Carl Sagan Thumbnail In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (1987) -- Carl Sagan
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