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Alexander Agassiz
(17 Dec 1835 - 27 Mar 1910)
Swiss marine zoologist, oceanographer and mining engineer.
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Quotes by others about Alexander Agassiz (1)
Yes, Agassiz does recommend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorous in it makes brains. So far you are correct. But I cannot help you to a decision about the amount you need to eat—at least, not with certainty. If the specimen composition you send is about your fair usual average, I should judge that perhaps a couple of whales would be all you would want for the present. Not the largest kind, but simply good middling-sized whales.
A fallacy expressed in advice to an aspiring author. 'Answer To An Inquiry From The Coming Man', The Galaxy (Jan 1871), 11, 159. Collected in Sketches New and Old (), 25. Also seen shortened as, “Agassiz does recommend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorus in it makes brains. But I cannot help you to a decision about the amount you need to eat. Perhaps a couple of whales would be enough.” [Presumably Twain refers to Alexander Agassiz, marine zoologist (1835-1910) —Webmaster]
See also:
- 17 Dec - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Agassiz's birth.
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) -- 
