TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY ®  •  TODAYINSCI ®
Celebrating 24 Years on the Web
Find science on or your birthday

Today in Science History - Quickie Quiz
Who said: “I have no satisfaction in formulas unless I feel their arithmetical magnitude.”
more quiz questions >>
Home > Category Index for Science Quotations > Category Index C > Category: Consistent

Consistent Quotes (50 quotes)

...the question undoubtedly is, or soon will be, not whether or no we shall employ notation in chemistry, but whether we shall use a bad and incongruous, or a consistent and regular notation.
'On the Employment of Notation in Chemistry', Journal of the Royal Institution (1838), 1, 438. Cited in Timothy L. Alborn, 'Negotiating Notation: Chemical Symbols and British Society, 1831-1835', Annals of Science (1989), 46, 437.
Science quotes on:  |  Bad (185)  |  Chemistry (376)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Employ (115)  |  Employment (34)  |  Incongruity (4)  |  Notation (28)  |  Question (649)  |  Regular (48)  |  Regularity (40)  |  Soon (187)  |  Use (771)  |  Will (2350)

[In refutation of evolution] There is not enough evidence, consistent evidence to make it as fact, and I say that because for theory to become a fact, it needs to consistently have the same results after it goes through a series of tests. The tests that they put—that they use to support evolution do not have consistent results. Now too many people are blindly accepting evolution as fact. But when you get down to the hard evidence, it’s merely a theory.
[In favor of the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in schools.]
From interview by Miles O'Brien on CNN (30 Mar 1996). Reported from transcript, via Nexis, in New York Magazine (15 Sep 2010).
Science quotes on:  |  Acceptance (56)  |  Accepting (22)  |  Become (821)  |  Blind (98)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Consistently (8)  |  Creationism (8)  |  Do (1905)  |  Down (455)  |  Enough (341)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Evolution (635)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Favor (69)  |  Hard (246)  |  Merely (315)  |  People (1031)  |  Result (700)  |  Say (989)  |  School (227)  |  Series (153)  |  Support (151)  |  Teaching (190)  |  Test (221)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Through (846)  |  Use (771)

All that can be said upon the number and nature of elements is, in my opinion, confined to discussions entirely of a metaphysical nature. The subject only furnishes us with indefinite problems, which may be solved in a thousand different ways, not one of which, in all probability, is consistent with nature. I shall therefore only add upon this subject, that if, by the term elements, we mean to express those simple and indivisible atoms of which matter is composed, it is extremely probable we know nothing at all about them; but, if we apply the term elements, or principles of bodies, to express our idea of the last point which analysis is capable of reaching, we must admit, as elements, all the substances into which we are capable, by any means, to reduce bodies by decomposition.
Elements of Chemistry (1790), trans. R. Kerr, Preface, xxiv.
Science quotes on:  |  Analysis (244)  |  Apply (170)  |  Atom (381)  |  Capable (174)  |  Composition (86)  |  Decomposition (19)  |  Different (595)  |  Discussion (78)  |  Element (322)  |  Express (192)  |  Idea (881)  |  Indefinite (21)  |  Indivisible (22)  |  Know (1538)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Last (425)  |  Matter (821)  |  Mean (810)  |  Means (587)  |  Metaphysical (38)  |  Metaphysics (53)  |  Must (1525)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Number (710)  |  Opinion (291)  |  Point (584)  |  Principle (530)  |  Probability (135)  |  Problem (731)  |  Reduce (100)  |  Reduction (52)  |  Simple (426)  |  Solution (282)  |  Subject (543)  |  Substance (253)  |  Term (357)  |  Thousand (340)  |  Way (1214)

Any conception which is definitely and completely determined by means of a finite number of specifications, say by assigning a finite number of elements, is a mathematical conception. Mathematics has for its function to develop the consequences involved in the definition of a group of mathematical conceptions. Interdependence and mutual logical consistency among the members of the group are postulated, otherwise the group would either have to be treated as several distinct groups, or would lie beyond the sphere of mathematics.
In 'Mathematics', Encyclopedia Britannica (9th ed.).
Science quotes on:  |  Assign (15)  |  Beyond (316)  |  Complete (209)  |  Completely (137)  |  Conception (160)  |  Consequence (220)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Definite (114)  |  Definition (238)  |  Definitions and Objects of Mathematics (33)  |  Determine (152)  |  Develop (278)  |  Distinct (98)  |  Element (322)  |  Finite (60)  |  Function (235)  |  Group (83)  |  Interdependence (4)  |  Involve (93)  |  Involved (90)  |  Lie (370)  |  Logical (57)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mean (810)  |  Means (587)  |  Member (42)  |  Mutual (54)  |  Number (710)  |  Otherwise (26)  |  Postulate (42)  |  Say (989)  |  Several (33)  |  Specification (7)  |  Sphere (118)  |  Treat (38)

But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the unproved postulates with which we start are purely arbitrary. They must be consistent, they had better lead to something interesting.
In A History of Geometrical Methods (1940, reprint 2003), 423.
Science quotes on:  |  Arbitrary (27)  |  Better (493)  |  Century (319)  |  Good (906)  |  David Hilbert (45)  |  Influence (231)  |  Interesting (153)  |  Lead (391)  |  Must (1525)  |  Postulate (42)  |  Present (630)  |  Purely (111)  |  See (1094)  |  Something (718)  |  Start (237)  |  Thank (48)  |  Thanks (26)  |  Unproven (5)

Common sense drives us to accept quantum theory in place of classical physics as more consistent with common sense. … When they are inspected, the explanations of classical physics fall apart, and they are seen to be mere superficial delusions, like film-sets.
In Creation Revisited: The Origin of Space, Time and the Universe (1992), 65.
Science quotes on:  |  Classical Physics (6)  |  Common Sense (136)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Inspect (3)

Confined to its true domain, mathematical reasoning is admirably adapted to perform the universal office of sound logic: to induce in order to deduce, in order to construct. … It contents itself to furnish, in the most favorable domain, a model of clearness, of precision, and consistency, the close contemplation of which is alone able to prepare the mind to render other conceptions also as perfect as their nature permits. Its general reaction, more negative than positive, must consist, above all, in inspiring us everywhere with an invincible aversion for vagueness, inconsistency, and obscurity, which may always be really avoided in any reasoning whatsoever, if we make sufficient effort.
In Synthèse Subjective (1856), 98. As translated in Robert Édouard Moritz, Memorabilia Mathematica; Or, The Philomath’s Quotation-Book (1914), 202-203. From the original French, “Bornée à son vrai domaine, la raison mathématique y peut admirablement remplir l’office universel de la saine logique: induire pour déduire, afin de construire. … Elle se contente de former, dans le domaine le plus favorable, un type de clarté, de précision, et de consistance, dont la contemplation familière peut seule disposer l’esprit à rendre les autres conceptions aussi parfaites que le comporte leur nature. Sa réaction générale, plus négative que positive, doit surtout consister à nous inspirer partout une invincible répugnance pour le vague, l’incohérence, et l’obscurité, que nous pouvons réellement éviter envers des pensées quelconques, si nous y faisons assez d’efforts.”
Science quotes on:  |  Adapt (70)  |  Alone (324)  |  Aversion (9)  |  Avoid (123)  |  Clearness (11)  |  Close (77)  |  Conception (160)  |  Confine (26)  |  Consist (223)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Construct (129)  |  Contemplation (75)  |  Content (75)  |  Deduce (27)  |  Domain (72)  |  Effort (243)  |  Everywhere (98)  |  Favorable (24)  |  Furnish (97)  |  General (521)  |  Inconsistent (9)  |  Induce (24)  |  Inspire (58)  |  Invincible (6)  |  Logic (311)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mathematics And Logic (27)  |  Mind (1377)  |  Model (106)  |  More (2558)  |  Most (1728)  |  Must (1525)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Negative (66)  |  Obscurity (28)  |  Office (71)  |  Order (638)  |  Other (2233)  |  Perfect (223)  |  Perform (123)  |  Permit (61)  |  Positive (98)  |  Precision (72)  |  Prepare (44)  |  Reaction (106)  |  Reasoning (212)  |  Render (96)  |  Sound (187)  |  Sufficient (133)  |  True (239)  |  Universal (198)  |  Vagueness (15)  |  Whatsoever (41)

Error, never can be consistent, nor can truth fail of having support from the accurate examination of every circumstance.
'Theory of the Earth', Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1788), 1, 259.
Science quotes on:  |  Accurate (88)  |  Circumstance (139)  |  Error (339)  |  Examination (102)  |  Fail (191)  |  Never (1089)  |  Observation (593)  |  Support (151)  |  Truth (1109)

Essentially only one thing in life interests us: our psychical constitution, the mechanism of which was and is wrapped in darkness. All human resources, art, religion, literature, philosophy and historical sciences, all of them join in bringing lights in this darkness. But man has still another powerful resource: natural science with its strictly objective methods. This science, as we all know, is making huge progress every day. The facts and considerations which I have placed before you at the end of my lecture are one out of numerous attempts to employ a consistent, purely scientific method of thinking in the study of the mechanism of the highest manifestations of life in the dog, the representative of the animal kingdom that is man's best friend.
'Physiology of Digestion', Nobel Lecture (12 Dec 1904). In Nobel Lectures: Physiology or Medicine 1901-1921 (1967), 134
Science quotes on:  |  Animal (651)  |  Animal Kingdom (21)  |  Art (680)  |  Attempt (266)  |  Best (467)  |  Best Friend (4)  |  Consideration (143)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Constitution (78)  |  Darkness (72)  |  Dog (70)  |  Employ (115)  |  Employment (34)  |  End (603)  |  Essential (210)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Facts (553)  |  Friend (180)  |  Historical (70)  |  History (716)  |  Human (1512)  |  Interest (416)  |  Kingdom (80)  |  Know (1538)  |  Lecture (111)  |  Life (1870)  |  Light (635)  |  Literature (116)  |  Making (300)  |  Man (2252)  |  Manifestation (61)  |  Mechanism (102)  |  Method (531)  |  Natural (810)  |  Natural Science (133)  |  Numerous (70)  |  Objective (96)  |  Philosophy (409)  |  Powerful (145)  |  Progress (492)  |  Psychology (166)  |  Purely (111)  |  Religion (369)  |  Representative (14)  |  Resource (74)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientific Method (200)  |  Still (614)  |  Strictness (2)  |  Study (701)  |  Thing (1914)  |  Thinking (425)  |  Wrap (7)

Exercises in being obedient can not begin too early, and I have, during an almost daily observation of six years, discovered no harm from an early, consistent guiding of the germinating will, provided only this guiding be done with the greatest mildness and justice, as if the infant had already an insight into the benefits of obedience.
In W. Preyer and H.W. Brown (trans.), The Mind of the Child: The Senses and the Will: Observations Concerning the Mental Development of the Human Being in the First Years of Life (1888, 1890), Vol. 1, 345.
Science quotes on:  |  Already (226)  |  Begin (275)  |  Being (1276)  |  Benefit (123)  |  Daily (91)  |  Discover (571)  |  Early (196)  |  Exercise (113)  |  Germinating (2)  |  Greatest (330)  |  Guiding (3)  |  Harm (43)  |  Infant (26)  |  Insight (107)  |  Justice (40)  |  Mildness (2)  |  Obedience (20)  |  Obedient (9)  |  Observation (593)  |  Will (2350)  |  Year (963)

Few will deny that even in the first scientific instruction in mathematics the most rigorous method is to be given preference over all others. Especially will every teacher prefer a consistent proof to one which is based on fallacies or proceeds in a vicious circle, indeed it will be morally impossible for the teacher to present a proof of the latter kind consciously and thus in a sense deceive his pupils. Notwithstanding these objectionable so-called proofs, so far as the foundation and the development of the system is concerned, predominate in our textbooks to the present time. Perhaps it will be answered, that rigorous proof is found too difficult for the pupil’s power of comprehension. Should this be anywhere the case,—which would only indicate some defect in the plan or treatment of the whole,—the only remedy would be to merely state the theorem in a historic way, and forego a proof with the frank confession that no proof has been found which could be comprehended by the pupil; a remedy which is ever doubtful and should only be applied in the case of extreme necessity. But this remedy is to be preferred to a proof which is no proof, and is therefore either wholly unintelligible to the pupil, or deceives him with an appearance of knowledge which opens the door to all superficiality and lack of scientific method.
In 'Stücke aus dem Lehrbuche der Arithmetik', Werke, Bd. 2 (1904), 296.
Science quotes on:  |  Answer (389)  |  Anywhere (16)  |  Appearance (145)  |  Applied (176)  |  Apply (170)  |  Base (120)  |  Call (781)  |  Case (102)  |  Circle (117)  |  Comprehend (44)  |  Comprehension (69)  |  Concern (239)  |  Confession (9)  |  Consciously (6)  |  Deceive (26)  |  Defect (31)  |  Deny (71)  |  Development (441)  |  Difficult (263)  |  Door (94)  |  Doubtful (30)  |  Especially (31)  |  Extreme (78)  |  Fallacy (31)  |  Far (158)  |  Find (1014)  |  First (1302)  |  Forego (4)  |  Foundation (177)  |  Frank (4)  |  Give (208)  |  Historic (7)  |  Impossible (263)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Indicate (62)  |  Instruction (101)  |  Kind (564)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Lack (127)  |  Latter (21)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Merely (315)  |  Method (531)  |  Morally (2)  |  Most (1728)  |  Necessity (197)  |  Open (277)  |  Other (2233)  |  Plan (122)  |  Power (771)  |  Predominate (7)  |  Prefer (27)  |  Preference (28)  |  Present (630)  |  Proceed (134)  |  Proof (304)  |  Pupil (62)  |  Remedy (63)  |  Rigorous (50)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientific Method (200)  |  Sense (785)  |  So-Called (71)  |  State (505)  |  Superficiality (4)  |  System (545)  |  Teacher (154)  |  Teaching of Mathematics (39)  |  Textbook (39)  |  Theorem (116)  |  Time (1911)  |  Treatment (135)  |  Unintelligible (17)  |  Vicious Circle (4)  |  Way (1214)  |  Whole (756)  |  Wholly (88)  |  Will (2350)

Geology has shared the fate of other infant sciences, in being for a while considered hostile to revealed religion; so like them, when fully understood, it will be found a potent and consistent auxiliary to it, exalting our conviction of the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness of the Creator.
Geology and Mineralogy Considered with Reference to Natural Theology (1836), Vol. 1, 9.
Science quotes on:  |  Auxiliary (11)  |  Being (1276)  |  Consider (428)  |  Conviction (100)  |  Creator (97)  |  Fate (76)  |  Geology (240)  |  Goodness (26)  |  Infant (26)  |  Other (2233)  |  Potent (15)  |  Power (771)  |  Religion (369)  |  Reveal (152)  |  Revealed (59)  |  Understood (155)  |  Will (2350)  |  Wisdom (235)

Given any domain of thought in which the fundamental objective is a knowledge that transcends mere induction or mere empiricism, it seems quite inevitable that its processes should be made to conform closely to the pattern of a system free of ambiguous terms, symbols, operations, deductions; a system whose implications and assumptions are unique and consistent; a system whose logic confounds not the necessary with the sufficient where these are distinct; a system whose materials are abstract elements interpretable as reality or unreality in any forms whatsoever provided only that these forms mirror a thought that is pure. To such a system is universally given the name MATHEMATICS.
In 'Mathematics', National Mathematics Magazine (Nov 1937), 12, No. 2, 62.
Science quotes on:  |  Abstract (141)  |  Ambiguous (14)  |  Assumption (96)  |  Conform (15)  |  Confound (21)  |  Deduction (90)  |  Distinct (98)  |  Domain (72)  |  Element (322)  |  Empiricism (21)  |  Form (976)  |  Free (239)  |  Fundamental (264)  |  Implication (25)  |  Induction (81)  |  Inevitable (53)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Logic (311)  |  Material (366)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mirror (43)  |  Name (359)  |  Necessary (370)  |  Objective (96)  |  Operation (221)  |  Operations (107)  |  Pattern (116)  |  Process (439)  |  Provide (79)  |  Pure (299)  |  Reality (274)  |  Sufficient (133)  |  Symbol (100)  |  System (545)  |  Term (357)  |  Terms (184)  |  Thought (995)  |  Transcend (27)  |  Unique (72)  |  Universal (198)  |  Unreality (3)  |  Whatsoever (41)

God exists since mathematics is consistent, and the Devil exists since we cannot prove it.
Given as “A. Weil has said…”, in Paul C. Rosenbloom, The Elements of Mathematical Logic (1950), 72. Note that Rosenbloom gives the quote in narrative form, not within quotation marks, which suggests these words may not be verbatim. Later texts have added quotation marks [which may not be justified. —Webmaster] As yet, Webmaster has not found an earlier source to validate whether the quotations marks can be used. (Can you help?)
Science quotes on:  |  Devil (34)  |  Exist (458)  |  God (776)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Prove (261)

I am very astonished that the scientific picture of the real world around me is deficient. It gives a lot of factual information, puts all our experience in a magnificently consistent order, but it is ghastly silent about all and sundry that is really near to our heart, that really matters to us. It cannot tell us a word about red and blue, bitter and sweet, physical pain and physical delight; it knows nothing of beautiful and ugly, good or bad, God and eternity. Science sometimes pretends to answer questions in these domains, but the answers are very often so silly that we are not inclined to take them seriously.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Answer (389)  |  Astonish (39)  |  Astonished (10)  |  Bad (185)  |  Beautiful (271)  |  Bitter (30)  |  Blue (63)  |  Deficient (3)  |  Delight (111)  |  Domain (72)  |  Eternity (64)  |  Experience (494)  |  Factual (8)  |  Ghastly (5)  |  Give (208)  |  God (776)  |  Good (906)  |  Heart (243)  |  Inclined (41)  |  Information (173)  |  Know (1538)  |  Lot (151)  |  Magnificently (2)  |  Matter (821)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Often (109)  |  Order (638)  |  Pain (144)  |  Physical (518)  |  Picture (148)  |  Pretend (18)  |  Question (649)  |  Real World (15)  |  Really (77)  |  Red (38)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Seriously (20)  |  Silent (31)  |  Silly (17)  |  Sometimes (46)  |  Sundry (4)  |  Sweet (40)  |  Tell (344)  |  Ugly (14)  |  Word (650)  |  World (1850)

I had at one time a very bad fever of which I almost died. In my fever I had a long consistent delirium. I dreamt that I was in Hell, and that Hell is a place full of all those happenings that are improbable but not impossible. The effects of this are curious. Some of the damned, when they first arrive below, imagine that they will beguile the tedium of eternity by games of cards. But they find this impossible, because, whenever a pack is shuffled, it comes out in perfect order, beginning with the Ace of Spades and ending with the King of Hearts. There is a special department of Hell for students of probability. In this department there are many typewriters and many monkeys. Every time that a monkey walks on a typewriter, it types by chance one of Shakespeare's sonnets. There is another place of torment for physicists. In this there are kettles and fires, but when the kettles are put on the fires, the water in them freezes. There are also stuffy rooms. But experience has taught the physicists never to open a window because, when they do, all the air rushes out and leaves the room a vacuum.
'The Metaphysician's Nightmare', Nightmares of Eminent Persons and Other Stories (1954), 38-9.
Science quotes on:  |  Air (366)  |  Arrival (15)  |  Bad (185)  |  Beginning (312)  |  Chance (244)  |  Curiosity (138)  |  Curious (95)  |  Damned (4)  |  Death (406)  |  Delirium (3)  |  Department (93)  |  Do (1905)  |  Dream (222)  |  Effect (414)  |  Eternity (64)  |  Experience (494)  |  Fever (34)  |  Find (1014)  |  Fire (203)  |  First (1302)  |  Freeze (6)  |  Game (104)  |  Happening (59)  |  Heart (243)  |  Hell (32)  |  Imagination (349)  |  Imagine (176)  |  Impossibility (60)  |  Impossible (263)  |  Improbable (15)  |  Kettle (3)  |  Long (778)  |  Monkey (57)  |  Never (1089)  |  Open (277)  |  Opening (15)  |  Order (638)  |  Perfect (223)  |  Perfection (131)  |  Physicist (270)  |  Possibility (172)  |  Probability (135)  |  Room (42)  |  Rush (18)  |  William Shakespeare (109)  |  Shuffle (7)  |  Sonnet (5)  |  Special (188)  |  Student (317)  |  Tedium (3)  |  Time (1911)  |  Torment (18)  |  Type (171)  |  Typewriter (6)  |  Vacuum (41)  |  Walk (138)  |  Water (503)  |  Whenever (81)  |  Will (2350)  |  Window (59)

If in a discussion of many matters … we are not able to give perfectly exact and self-consistent accounts, do not be surprised: rather we would be content if we provide accounts that are second to none in probability.
Plato
Timaeus. Quoted in Robert J. Scully, The Demon and the Quantum (2007), 20.
Science quotes on:  |  Account (195)  |  Discussion (78)  |  Do (1905)  |  Matter (821)  |  Probability (135)  |  Self (268)  |  Theory (1015)

If physics leads us today to a world view which is essentially mystical, it returns, in a way, to its beginning, 2,500 years ago. ... This time, however, it is not only based on intuition, but also on experiments of great precision and sophistication, and on a rigorous and consistent mathematical formalism.
In The Tao of Physics (1975), 19.
Science quotes on:  |  Beginning (312)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Formalism (7)  |  Great (1610)  |  Intuition (82)  |  Lead (391)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mysticism (14)  |  Physic (515)  |  Physics (564)  |  Precision (72)  |  Return (133)  |  Rigor (29)  |  Rigorous (50)  |  Sophistication (12)  |  Time (1911)  |  Today (321)  |  View (496)  |  Way (1214)  |  World (1850)  |  Year (963)

If there is a lesson in our story it is that the manipulation, according to strictly self-consistent rules, of a set of symbols representing one single aspect of the phenomena may produce correct, verifiable predictions, and yet completely ignore all other aspects whose ensemble constitutes reality.
In 'Epilogue', The Sleepwalkers: A History of Man’s Changing Vision of the Universe (1959, 1968), 533.
Science quotes on:  |  According (236)  |  Aspect (129)  |  Completely (137)  |  Constitute (99)  |  Correct (95)  |  Ensemble (8)  |  Ignore (52)  |  Lesson (58)  |  Manipulation (19)  |  Other (2233)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Prediction (89)  |  Produce (117)  |  Reality (274)  |  Represent (157)  |  Rule (307)  |  Self (268)  |  Self-Consistent (2)  |  Set (400)  |  Single (365)  |  Story (122)  |  Strict (20)  |  Symbol (100)  |  Verifiable (6)

In experimenting on the arc, my aim was not so much to add to the large number of isolated facts that had already been discovered, as to form some idea of the bearing of these upon one another, and thus to arrive at a clear conception of what takes place in each part of the arc and carbons at every moment. The attempt to correlate all the known phenomena, and to bind them together into one consistent whole, led to the deduction of new facts, which, when duly tested by experiment, became parts of the growing body, and, themselves, opened up fresh questions, to be answered in their turn by experiment.
In The Electric Arc (1902), Preface, iii. Ayrton described the growth of her published work on the electric arc, from a series of articles in The Electrician in 1895-6, to the full book, which “has attained to its present proportions almost with the growth of an organic body.”
Science quotes on:  |  Aim (175)  |  Already (226)  |  Answer (389)  |  Arc (14)  |  Attempt (266)  |  Body (557)  |  Carbon (68)  |  Conception (160)  |  Correlation (19)  |  Deduction (90)  |  Discover (571)  |  Discovery (837)  |  Electricity (168)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Facts (553)  |  Form (976)  |  Fresh (69)  |  Growing (99)  |  Idea (881)  |  Known (453)  |  Large (398)  |  Moment (260)  |  New (1273)  |  Number (710)  |  Open (277)  |  Question (649)  |  Test (221)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Together (392)  |  Turn (454)  |  Whole (756)

Man is no new-begot child of the ape, bred of a struggle for existence upon brutish lines—nor should the belief that such is his origin, oft dinned into his ears by scientists, influence his conduct. Were he to regard himself as an extremely ancient type, distinguished chiefly by the qualities of his mind, and to look upon the existing Primates as the failures of his line, as his misguided and brutish collaterals, rather than as his ancestors, I think it would be something gained for the ethical outlook of Homo—and also it would be consistent with present knowledge.
The Origin of Man (1918), a pamphlet published by The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, reprinted in Arthur Dendy (ed.), Animal Life and Human Progress (1919), 131.
Science quotes on:  |  Ancestor (63)  |  Ancient (198)  |  Ape (54)  |  Belief (615)  |  Chiefly (47)  |  Child (333)  |  Conduct (70)  |  Distinguish (168)  |  Distinguished (84)  |  Ear (69)  |  Ethical (34)  |  Existence (481)  |  Failure (176)  |  Gain (146)  |  Himself (461)  |  Homo Sapiens (23)  |  Human Progress (18)  |  Influence (231)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Look (584)  |  Man (2252)  |  Mind (1377)  |  New (1273)  |  Origin (250)  |  Origin Of Man (9)  |  Outlook (32)  |  Present (630)  |  Primate (11)  |  Regard (312)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Something (718)  |  Struggle (111)  |  Think (1122)  |  Type (171)

Mathematicians deal with possible worlds, with an infinite number of logically consistent systems. Observers explore the one particular world we inhabit. Between the two stands the theorist. He studies possible worlds but only those which are compatible with the information furnished by observers. In other words, theory attempts to segregate the minimum number of possible worlds which must include the actual world we inhabit. Then the observer, with new factual information, attempts to reduce the list further. And so it goes, observation and theory advancing together toward the common goal of science, knowledge of the structure and observation of the universe.
Lecture to Sigma Xi, 'The Problem of the Expanding Universe' (1941), printed in Sigma Xi Quarterly (1942), 30, 104-105. Reprinted in Smithsonian Institution Report of the Board of Regents (1943), 97, 123. As cited by Norriss S. Hetherington in 'Philosophical Values and Observation in Edwin Hubble's Choice of a Model of the Universe', Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences (1982), 13, No. 1, 63.
Science quotes on:  |  Actual (118)  |  Advance (298)  |  Attempt (266)  |  Common (447)  |  Compatibility (4)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Deal (192)  |  Exploration (161)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Furnish (97)  |  Goal (155)  |  Include (93)  |  Inclusion (5)  |  Infinite (243)  |  Information (173)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Logic (311)  |  Mathematician (407)  |  Minimum (13)  |  Must (1525)  |  New (1273)  |  Number (710)  |  Observation (593)  |  Observer (48)  |  Other (2233)  |  Possible (560)  |  Reduce (100)  |  Reduction (52)  |  Segregation (2)  |  Stand (284)  |  Structure (365)  |  Study (701)  |  System (545)  |  Theorist (44)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Together (392)  |  Two (936)  |  Universe (900)  |  Word (650)  |  World (1850)

Mathematics… is the set of all possible self-consistent structures, and there are vastly more logical structures than physical principles.
In 'Conclusion', Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension (1995), 328.
Science quotes on:  |  Logical (57)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  More (2558)  |  Physical (518)  |  Possible (560)  |  Principle (530)  |  Self (268)  |  Set (400)  |  Structure (365)  |  Vastly (8)

May every young scientist remember … and not fail to keep his eyes open for the possibility that an irritating failure of his apparatus to give consistent results may once or twice in a lifetime conceal an important discovery.
Commenting on the discovery of thoron gas because one of Rutherford’s students had found his measurements of the ionizing property of thorium were variable. His results even seemed to relate to whether the laboratory door was closed or open. After considering the problem, Rutherford realized a radioactive gas was emitted by thorium, which hovered close to the metal sample, adding to its radioactivity—unless it was dissipated by air drafts from an open door. (Thoron was later found to be argon.)
In Barbara Lovett Cline, Men Who Made a New Physics (1987), 21.
Science quotes on:  |  Air (366)  |  Apparatus (70)  |  Argon (3)  |  Closed (38)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Discovery (837)  |  Door (94)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Eye (440)  |  Fail (191)  |  Failure (176)  |  Gas (89)  |  Hover (8)  |  Laboratory (214)  |  Measurement (178)  |  Metal (88)  |  Open (277)  |  Possibility (172)  |  Problem (731)  |  Property (177)  |  Radioactive (24)  |  Radioactivity (33)  |  Remember (189)  |  Result (700)  |  Sample (19)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Student (317)  |  Thorium (5)  |  Variable (37)  |  Young (253)

Modern music, headstrong, wayward, tragically confused as to what to say and how to say it, has mounted its horse, as the joke goes, and ridden off in all directions. If we require of an art that it be unified as a whole and expressed in a universal language known to all, if it must be a consistent symbolization of the era, then modern music is a disastrous failure. It has many voices, many symbolizations. It it known to one, unknown to another. But if an art may be as variable and polyvocal as the different individuals and emotional regions from which it comes in this heterogeneous modern world, then the diversity and contradiction of modern music may be acceptable.
In Art Is Action: A Discussion of Nine Arts in a Modern World (1939), 81.
Science quotes on:  |  Acceptable (14)  |  Art (680)  |  Confused (13)  |  Contradiction (69)  |  Different (595)  |  Direction (185)  |  Disastrous (3)  |  Diversity (75)  |  Emotion (106)  |  Era (51)  |  Express (192)  |  Failure (176)  |  Horse (78)  |  Individual (420)  |  Joke (90)  |  Known (453)  |  Language (308)  |  Modern (402)  |  Mount (43)  |  Music (133)  |  Must (1525)  |  Require (229)  |  Say (989)  |  Symbol (100)  |  Tragic (19)  |  Unified (10)  |  Universal (198)  |  Unknown (195)  |  Variable (37)  |  Wayward (3)  |  Whole (756)  |  World (1850)

Nature is as it is because this is the only possible nature consistent with itself.
Bootstrap: A Scientific Idea'. Science, vol. II, 1968, pp. 762-765. Quoted in Erhard Scheibe and Brigitte Falkenburg (ed), Between Rationalism and Empiricism: Selected Papers in the Philosophy of Physics (2001), 33.
Science quotes on:  |  Nature (2017)  |  Possible (560)

Nothing is too wonderful to be true if it be consistent with the laws of nature.
Laboratory notebook (19 Mar 1850), while musing on the possible relation of gravity to electricy. In Michael Faraday and Bence Jones (ed.), The Life and Letters of Faraday (1870), 253
Science quotes on:  |  Consistency (31)  |  Law (913)  |  Law Of Nature (80)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Truth (1109)  |  Wonder (251)  |  Wonderful (155)

People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty and justice.
An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). In R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner (eds.), An Enquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1976), Vol. 1, Book 1, Chapter 10, Part 2, 145.
Science quotes on:  |  Against (332)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Conspiracy (6)  |  Contrivance (12)  |  Conversation (46)  |  Diversion (10)  |  End (603)  |  Execution (25)  |  Impossibility (60)  |  Impossible (263)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Justice (40)  |  Law (913)  |  Liberty (29)  |  Meeting (22)  |  People (1031)  |  Prevent (98)  |  Prevention (37)  |  Price (57)  |  Public (100)  |  Raise (38)  |  Seldom (68)  |  Together (392)  |  Trade (34)

Pure mathematics is a collection of hypothetical, deductive theories, each consisting of a definite system of primitive, undefined, concepts or symbols and primitive, unproved, but self-consistent assumptions (commonly called axioms) together with their logically deducible consequences following by rigidly deductive processes without appeal to intuition.
In 'Non-Euclidian Geometry of the Fourth Dimension', collected in Henry Parker Manning (ed.), The Fourth Dimension Simply Explained (1910), 58.
Science quotes on:  |  Appeal (46)  |  Assumption (96)  |  Axiom (65)  |  Call (781)  |  Collection (68)  |  Commonly (9)  |  Concept (242)  |  Consequence (220)  |  Consist (223)  |  Deductive (13)  |  Definite (114)  |  Definitions and Objects of Mathematics (33)  |  Follow (389)  |  Hypothetical (6)  |  Intuition (82)  |  Logic (311)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Primitive (79)  |  Process (439)  |  Pure (299)  |  Pure Mathematics (72)  |  Rigidly (4)  |  Self (268)  |  Self-Consistent (2)  |  Symbol (100)  |  System (545)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Together (392)  |  Undefined (3)  |  Unproved (2)

Quantity is that which is operated with according to fixed mutually consistent laws. Both operator and operand must derive their meaning from the laws of operation. In the case of ordinary algebra these are the three laws already indicated [the commutative, associative, and distributive laws], in the algebra of quaternions the same save the law of commutation for multiplication and division, and so on. It may be questioned whether this definition is sufficient, and it may be objected that it is vague; but the reader will do well to reflect that any definition must include the linear algebras of Peirce, the algebra of logic, and others that may be easily imagined, although they have not yet been developed. This general definition of quantity enables us to see how operators may be treated as quantities, and thus to understand the rationale of the so called symbolical methods.
In 'Mathematics', Encyclopedia Britannica (9th ed.).
Science quotes on:  |  Accord (36)  |  According (236)  |  Algebra (117)  |  Already (226)  |  Both (496)  |  Call (781)  |  Commutative (2)  |  Definition (238)  |  Definitions and Objects of Mathematics (33)  |  Derive (70)  |  Develop (278)  |  Distributive (2)  |  Division (67)  |  Do (1905)  |  Enable (122)  |  Fix (34)  |  General (521)  |  Include (93)  |  Law (913)  |  Linear (13)  |  Logic (311)  |  Meaning (244)  |  Method (531)  |  Multiplication (46)  |  Must (1525)  |  Mutually (7)  |  Object (438)  |  Operate (19)  |  Operation (221)  |  Operator (4)  |  Ordinary (167)  |  Other (2233)  |  Charles Sanders Peirce (22)  |  Quantity (136)  |  Quaternion (9)  |  Question (649)  |  Rationale (8)  |  Reader (42)  |  Reflect (39)  |  Save (126)  |  See (1094)  |  Sufficient (133)  |  Understand (648)  |  Vague (50)  |  Will (2350)

Quantum mechanics and relativity, taken together, are extraordinarily restrictive, and they therefore provide us with a great logical machine. We can explore with our minds any number of possible universes consisting of all kinds of mythical particles and interactions, but all except a very few can be rejected on a priori grounds because they are not simultaneously consistent with special relativity and quantum mechanics. Hopefully in the end we will find that only one theory is consistent with both and that theory will determine the nature of our particular universe.
As quoted in John D. Barrow, The Universe that Discovered Itself (2000), 360.
Science quotes on:  |  A Priori (26)  |  Both (496)  |  Consist (223)  |  Determine (152)  |  End (603)  |  Exploration (161)  |  Find (1014)  |  Great (1610)  |  Ground (222)  |  Interaction (47)  |  Kind (564)  |  Logical (57)  |  Machine (271)  |  Mechanic (120)  |  Mechanics (137)  |  Mind (1377)  |  Mythical (3)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Number (710)  |  Particle (200)  |  Particular (80)  |  Possible (560)  |  Provide (79)  |  Quantum (118)  |  Quantum Mechanics (47)  |  Reject (67)  |  Rejected (26)  |  Relativity (91)  |  Restrictive (4)  |  Simultaneous (23)  |  Special (188)  |  Special Relativity (5)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Together (392)  |  Universe (900)  |  Will (2350)

Science is the construction of parsimonious, internally consistent models that can reliably predict future observations.
As quoted in Mark Buchanan, 'Thesis: Madness in the Method', Nature Physics (1 Feb 2009), 5, No. 2, 83.
Science quotes on:  |  Construction (114)  |  Future (467)  |  Internal (69)  |  Model (106)  |  Observation (593)  |  Parsimonious (3)  |  Predict (86)  |  Prediction (89)  |  Reliable (13)

So I want to admit the assumption which the astronomer—and indeed any scientist—makes about the Universe he investigates. It is this: that the same physical causes give rise to the same physical results anywhere in the Universe, and at any time, past, present, and future. The fuller examination of this basic assumption, and much else besides, belongs to philosophy. The scientist, for his part, makes the assumption I have mentioned as an act of faith; and he feels confirmed in that faith by his increasing ability to build up a consistent and satisfying picture of the universe and its behavior.
From Science and the Nation (1957), 49. Also quoted in Ronald Keast, Dancing in the Dark: The Waltz in Wonder of Quantum Metaphysics (2009), 106.
Science quotes on:  |  Ability (162)  |  Act (278)  |  Act Of Faith (4)  |  Anywhere (16)  |  Assumption (96)  |  Astronomer (97)  |  Basic (144)  |  Behavior (95)  |  Behaviour (42)  |  Belong (168)  |  Build (211)  |  Cause (561)  |  Confirm (58)  |  Confirmation (25)  |  Examination (102)  |  Faith (209)  |  Feel (371)  |  Future (467)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Investigate (106)  |  Mention (84)  |  Past (355)  |  Past Present and Future (2)  |  Philosophy (409)  |  Physical (518)  |  Picture (148)  |  Present (630)  |  Result (700)  |  Rise (169)  |  Satisfying (5)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Time (1911)  |  Universe (900)  |  Want (504)

The critical mathematician has abandoned the search for truth. He no longer flatters himself that his propositions are or can be known to him or to any other human being to be true; and he contents himself with aiming at the correct, or the consistent. The distinction is not annulled nor even blurred by the reflection that consistency contains immanently a kind of truth. He is not absolutely certain, but he believes profoundly that it is possible to find various sets of a few propositions each such that the propositions of each set are compatible, that the propositions of each such set imply other propositions, and that the latter can be deduced from the former with certainty. That is to say, he believes that there are systems of coherent or consistent propositions, and he regards it his business to discover such systems. Any such system is a branch of mathematics.
In George Edward Martin, The Foundations of Geometry and the Non-Euclidean Plane (1982), 94. Also in Science (1912), New Series, 35, 107.
Science quotes on:  |  Abandon (73)  |  Absolutely (41)  |  Aim (175)  |  Annul (2)  |  Being (1276)  |  Belief (615)  |  Blur (8)  |  Branch (155)  |  Business (156)  |  Certain (557)  |  Certainty (180)  |  Coherent (14)  |  Compatible (4)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Contain (68)  |  Content (75)  |  Correct (95)  |  Critical (73)  |  Deduce (27)  |  Definitions and Objects of Mathematics (33)  |  Discover (571)  |  Distinction (72)  |  Find (1014)  |  Former (138)  |  Himself (461)  |  Human (1512)  |  Human Being (185)  |  Immanently (2)  |  Imply (20)  |  Kind (564)  |  Know (1538)  |  Known (453)  |  Latter (21)  |  Long (778)  |  Mathematician (407)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Other (2233)  |  Possible (560)  |  Profoundly (13)  |  Proposition (126)  |  Reflection (93)  |  Regard (312)  |  Say (989)  |  Search (175)  |  Set (400)  |  System (545)  |  True (239)  |  Truth (1109)  |  Various (205)

The framing of hypotheses is, for the enquirer after truth, not the end, but the beginning of his work. Each of his systems is invented, not that he may admire it and follow it into all its consistent consequences, but that he may make it the occasion of a course of active experiment and observation. And if the results of this process contradict his fundamental assumptions, however ingenious, however symmetrical, however elegant his system may be, he rejects it without hesitation. He allows no natural yearning for the offspring of his own mind to draw him aside from the higher duty of loyalty to his sovereign, Truth, to her he not only gives his affections and his wishes, but strenuous labour and scrupulous minuteness of attention.
Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences (1847), Vol. 2, 57.
Science quotes on:  |  Active (80)  |  Affection (44)  |  Assumption (96)  |  Attention (196)  |  Beginning (312)  |  Consequence (220)  |  Contradict (42)  |  Contradiction (69)  |  Course (413)  |  Draw (140)  |  Elegance (40)  |  Elegant (37)  |  End (603)  |  Enquiry (89)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Follow (389)  |  Frame (26)  |  Fundamental (264)  |  Hesitation (19)  |  Hypothesis (314)  |  Ingenious (55)  |  Invention (400)  |  Labor (200)  |  Loyalty (10)  |  Mind (1377)  |  Minuteness (8)  |  Natural (810)  |  Observation (593)  |  Occasion (87)  |  Offspring (27)  |  Process (439)  |  Reject (67)  |  Rejection (36)  |  Result (700)  |  Scrupulous (7)  |  Sovereign (5)  |  Strenuous (5)  |  System (545)  |  Truth (1109)  |  Work (1402)  |  Yearning (13)

The institutional goal of science is the extension of certified knowledge. The technical methods employed toward this end provide the relevant definition of knowledge: empirically confirmed and logically consistent predictions. The institutional imperatives (mores) derive from the goal and the methods. The entire structure of technical and moral norms implements the final objective. The technical norm of empirical evidence, adequate, valid and reliable, is a prerequisite for sustained true prediction; the technical norm of logical consistency, a prerequisite for systematic and valid prediction. The mores of science possess a methodologic rationale but they are binding, not only because they are procedurally efficient, but because they are believed right and good. They are moral as well as technical prescriptions. Four sets of institutional imperatives–universalism, communism, disinterestedness, organized scepticism–comprise the ethos of modern science.
Social Theory and Social Structure (1957), 552-3.
Science quotes on:  |  Adequate (50)  |  Belief (615)  |  Binding (9)  |  Certification (2)  |  Communism (11)  |  Comprise (2)  |  Confirm (58)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Definition (238)  |  Derive (70)  |  Disinterest (8)  |  Efficiency (46)  |  Empirical (58)  |  Empiricism (21)  |  Employ (115)  |  End (603)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Extension (60)  |  Final (121)  |  Goal (155)  |  Good (906)  |  Imperative (16)  |  Implement (13)  |  Institution (73)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Method (531)  |  Methodology (14)  |  Modern (402)  |  Modern Science (55)  |  Moral (203)  |  More (2558)  |  Objective (96)  |  Organisation (7)  |  Possess (157)  |  Prediction (89)  |  Prerequisite (9)  |  Prescription (18)  |  Procedure (48)  |  Rationale (8)  |  Relevance (18)  |  Reliability (18)  |  Right (473)  |  Scepticism (17)  |  Set (400)  |  Skepticism (31)  |  Structure (365)  |  Sustain (52)  |  Systematic (58)  |  Technical (53)  |  Validity (50)

The mathematical framework of quantum theory has passed countless successful tests and is now universally accepted as a consistent and accurate description of all atomic phenomena. The verbal interpretation, on the other hand – i.e., the metaphysics of quantum theory – is on far less solid ground. In fact, in more than forty years physicists have not been able to provide a clear metaphysical model.
In The Tao of Physics (1975), 132.
Science quotes on:  |  Accept (198)  |  Acceptance (56)  |  Accurate (88)  |  Atom (381)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Countless (39)  |  Description (89)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Framework (33)  |  Ground (222)  |  Interpretation (89)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Metaphysical (38)  |  Metaphysics (53)  |  Model (106)  |  More (2558)  |  On The Other Hand (40)  |  Other (2233)  |  Pass (241)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Physicist (270)  |  Quantum (118)  |  Quantum Theory (67)  |  Solid (119)  |  Success (327)  |  Successful (134)  |  Test (221)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Universal (198)  |  Year (963)

The mathematical framework of quantum theory has passed countless successful tests and is now universally accepted as a consistent and accurate description of all atomic phenomena. The verbal interpretation, on the other hand, i.e. the metaphysics of quantum physics, is on far less solid ground. In fact, in more than forty years physicists have not been able to provide a clear metaphysical model.
In The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics (1975), 132.
Science quotes on:  |  Accept (198)  |  Acceptance (56)  |  Accurate (88)  |  Atomic (6)  |  Clear (111)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Countless (39)  |  Description (89)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Forty (4)  |  Framework (33)  |  Ground (222)  |  Interpretation (89)  |  Less (105)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Metaphysical (38)  |  Metaphysics (53)  |  Model (106)  |  More (2558)  |  Other (2233)  |  Pass (241)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Physic (515)  |  Physicist (270)  |  Physics (564)  |  Providing (5)  |  Quantum (118)  |  Quantum Physics (19)  |  Quantum Theory (67)  |  Solid (119)  |  Successful (134)  |  Test (221)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Universal (198)  |  Verbal (10)  |  Year (963)

The most stable arrangement for an assemblage of molecules is one in which the component atoms and groups are packed together so that (a) the distances between neighbors are close to the equilibrium distance, (b) each atom or group has as many close neighbors as possible, and (c) there are no large unoccupied regions. In other words, each structure tends to be as 'close-packed' as possible, consistent with the 'sizes' of its component atoms or groups.
'The Structure of Fibrous Proteins', Chemical Reviews (1943), 32, 198.
Science quotes on:  |  Arrangement (93)  |  Assemblage (17)  |  Atom (381)  |  Component (51)  |  Distance (171)  |  Equilibrium (34)  |  Large (398)  |  Molecule (185)  |  Most (1728)  |  Other (2233)  |  Packing (3)  |  Possible (560)  |  Radical (28)  |  Stability (28)  |  Stable (32)  |  Structure (365)  |  Tend (124)  |  Together (392)  |  Word (650)

The nature of the atoms, and the forces called into play in their chemical union; the interactions between these atoms and the non-differentiated ether as manifested in the phenomena of light and electricity; the structures of the molecules and molecular systems of which the atoms are the units; the explanation of cohesion, elasticity, and gravitation—all these will be marshaled into a single compact and consistent body of scientific knowledge.
In Light Waves and Their Uses? (1902), 163.
Science quotes on:  |  Atom (381)  |  Body (557)  |  Call (781)  |  Chemical (303)  |  Cohesion (7)  |  Compact (13)  |  Elasticity (8)  |  Electricity (168)  |  Ether (37)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Force (497)  |  Gravitation (72)  |  Interaction (47)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Light (635)  |  Manifest (21)  |  Marshal (4)  |  Molecular (7)  |  Molecule (185)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Play (116)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientific Knowledge (11)  |  Single (365)  |  Structure (365)  |  System (545)  |  Union (52)  |  Unit (36)  |  Will (2350)

The origin of a science is usually to be sought for not in any systematic treatise, but in the investigation and solution of some particular problem. This is especially the case in the ordinary history of the great improvements in any department of mathematical science. Some problem, mathematical or physical, is proposed, which is found to be insoluble by known methods. This condition of insolubility may arise from one of two causes: Either there exists no machinery powerful enough to effect the required reduction, or the workmen are not sufficiently expert to employ their tools in the performance of an entirely new piece of work. The problem proposed is, however, finally solved, and in its solution some new principle, or new application of old principles, is necessarily introduced. If a principle is brought to light it is soon found that in its application it is not necessarily limited to the particular question which occasioned its discovery, and it is then stated in an abstract form and applied to problems of gradually increasing generality.
Other principles, similar in their nature, are added, and the original principle itself receives such modifications and extensions as are from time to time deemed necessary. The same is true of new applications of old principles; the application is first thought to be merely confined to a particular problem, but it is soon recognized that this problem is but one, and generally a very simple one, out of a large class, to which the same process of investigation and solution are applicable. The result in both of these cases is the same. A time comes when these several problems, solutions, and principles are grouped together and found to produce an entirely new and consistent method; a nomenclature and uniform system of notation is adopted, and the principles of the new method become entitled to rank as a distinct science.
In A Treatise on Projections (1880), Introduction, xi. Published as United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Treasury Department Document, No. 61.
Science quotes on:  |  Abstract (141)  |  Add (42)  |  Adopt (22)  |  Applicable (31)  |  Application (257)  |  Applied (176)  |  Apply (170)  |  Arise (162)  |  Become (821)  |  Both (496)  |  Bring (95)  |  Case (102)  |  Cause (561)  |  Class (168)  |  Condition (362)  |  Confine (26)  |  Deem (7)  |  Department (93)  |  Discovery (837)  |  Distinct (98)  |  Effect (414)  |  Employ (115)  |  Enough (341)  |  Entirely (36)  |  Entitle (3)  |  Especially (31)  |  Exist (458)  |  Expert (67)  |  Extension (60)  |  Finally (26)  |  Find (1014)  |  First (1302)  |  Form (976)  |  Generality (45)  |  Generally (15)  |  Gradually (102)  |  Great (1610)  |  Group (83)  |  History (716)  |  Improvement (117)  |  Increase (225)  |  Insoluble (15)  |  Introduce (63)  |  Investigation (250)  |  Know (1538)  |  Known (453)  |  Large (398)  |  Light (635)  |  Limit (294)  |  Limited (102)  |  Machinery (59)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Merely (315)  |  Method (531)  |  Modification (57)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Necessarily (137)  |  Necessary (370)  |  New (1273)  |  Nomenclature (159)  |  Notation (28)  |  Occasion (87)  |  Old (499)  |  Ordinary (167)  |  Origin (250)  |  Original (61)  |  Other (2233)  |  Particular (80)  |  Performance (51)  |  Physical (518)  |  Piece (39)  |  Powerful (145)  |  Principle (530)  |  Problem (731)  |  Process (439)  |  Produce (117)  |  Propose (24)  |  Question (649)  |  Rank (69)  |  Receive (117)  |  Recognize (136)  |  Reduction (52)  |  Require (229)  |  Required (108)  |  Result (700)  |  Same (166)  |  Seek (218)  |  Several (33)  |  Similar (36)  |  Simple (426)  |  Solution (282)  |  Solution. (53)  |  Solve (145)  |  Soon (187)  |  State (505)  |  Study And Research In Mathematics (61)  |  Sufficiently (9)  |  System (545)  |  Systematic (58)  |  Thought (995)  |  Time (1911)  |  Together (392)  |  Tool (129)  |  Treatise (46)  |  True (239)  |  Two (936)  |  Uniform (20)  |  Usually (176)  |  Work (1402)  |  Workman (13)

The question of the origin of life is essentially speculative. We have to construct, by straightforward thinking on the basis of very few factual observations, a plausible and self-consistent picture of a process which must have occurred before any of the forms which are known to us in the fossil record could have existed.
The Origin of Life (1967), 2.
Science quotes on:  |  Basis (180)  |  Construct (129)  |  Exist (458)  |  Form (976)  |  Fossil (143)  |  Fossil Record (12)  |  Known (453)  |  Life (1870)  |  Must (1525)  |  Observation (593)  |  Origin (250)  |  Origin Of Life (37)  |  Picture (148)  |  Plausible (24)  |  Process (439)  |  Question (649)  |  Record (161)  |  Self (268)  |  Straightforward (10)  |  Thinking (425)

The Requisites of a good Hypothesis are:
That It be Intelligible.
That It neither Assume nor Suppose anything Impossible, unintelligible, or demonstrably False.
That It be consistent with Itself.
That It be lit and sufficient to Explicate the Phaenomena, especially the chief.
That It be, at least, consistent, with the rest of the Phaenomena It particularly relates to, and do not contradict any other known Phaenomena of nature, or manifest Physical Truth.
The Qualities and Conditions of an Excellent Hypothesis are:
That It be not Precarious, but have sufficient Grounds In the nature of the Thing Itself or at least be well recommended by some Auxiliary Proofs.
That It be the Simplest of all the good ones we are able to frame, at least containing nothing that is superfluous or Impertinent.
That It be the only Hypothesis that can Explicate the Phaenomena; or at least, that do’s Explicate them so well.
That it enable a skilful Naturailst to foretell future Phaenomena by the Congruity or Incongruity to it; and especially the event of such Experlm’ts as are aptly devis’d to examine It, as Things that ought, or ought not, to be consequent to It.
Boyle Papers, 37. Quoted In Barbara Kaplan (ed.), Divulging of Useful Truths in Physick:The Medical Agenda of Robert Boyle (1993), 50.
Science quotes on:  |  Auxiliary (11)  |  Chief (99)  |  Condition (362)  |  Consequent (19)  |  Contradict (42)  |  Do (1905)  |  Enable (122)  |  Event (222)  |  Examine (84)  |  Foretell (12)  |  Future (467)  |  Good (906)  |  Ground (222)  |  Hypothesis (314)  |  Impertinence (4)  |  Impertinent (5)  |  Impossible (263)  |  Incongruity (4)  |  Intelligible (35)  |  Known (453)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Other (2233)  |  Physical (518)  |  Proof (304)  |  Recommend (27)  |  Rest (287)  |  Scientific Method (200)  |  Sufficient (133)  |  Superfluous (21)  |  Suppose (158)  |  Thing (1914)  |  Truth (1109)  |  Unintelligible (17)

The time is coming when man will be so well-versed in the earth’s habits that he will be able to anticipate earthquakes and prepare for them. When this happens, a unity between man and earth will have been achieved, a unity without which a consistent concept of the world is impossible.
In 'Prologue', Conversation with the Earth (1954), 9. As translated by E.B. Garside from Gespräch mit der Erde (1947).
Science quotes on:  |  Anticipate (20)  |  Earth (1076)  |  Earthquake (37)  |  Earthquake Prediction (2)  |  Habit (174)  |  Man (2252)  |  Prepare (44)  |  Unity (81)  |  World (1850)

The very foundation of our science is only an inference; far the whole of it rests an the unprovable assumption that, all through the inferred lapse of time which the inferred performance of inferred geological processes involves, they have been going on in a manner consistent with the laws of nature as we know them now.
'The Value of Outrageous Geological Hypotheses', Science, 1926, 63, 465-466.
Science quotes on:  |  Assumption (96)  |  Foundation (177)  |  Geomorphology (3)  |  Inference (45)  |  Involve (93)  |  Know (1538)  |  Law (913)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Performance (51)  |  Rest (287)  |  Through (846)  |  Time (1911)  |  Whole (756)

The whole question of imagination in science is often misunderstood by people in other disciplines. ... They overlook the fact that whatever we are allowed to imagine in science must be consistent with everything else we know.
In The Feynman Lectures in Physics (1964), Vol. 2, Lecture 20, p.20-10. As quoted by James Gleick in Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman (1992), 324.
Science quotes on:  |  Consistency (31)  |  Discipline (85)  |  Everything (489)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Imagination (349)  |  Imagine (176)  |  Know (1538)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Misunderstanding (13)  |  Must (1525)  |  Other (2233)  |  Overlook (33)  |  People (1031)  |  Question (649)  |  Whatever (234)  |  Whole (756)

The whole question of imagination in science is often misunderstood by people in other disciplines. They try to test our imagination in the following way. They say, “Here is a picture of some people in a situation. What do you imagine will happen next?” When we say, “I can’t imagine,” they may think we have a weak imagination. They overlook the fact that whatever we are allowed to imagine in science must be consistent with everything else we know; that the electric fields and the waves we talk about are not just some happy thoughts which we are free to make as we wish, but ideas which must be consistent with all the laws of physics we know. We can’t allow ourselves to seriously imagine things which are obviously in contradiction to the laws of nature. And so our kind of imagination is quite a difficult game. One has to have the imagination to think of something that has never been seen before, never been heard of before. At the same time the thoughts are restricted in a strait jacket, so to speak, limited by the conditions that come from our knowledge of the way nature really is. The problem of creating something which is new, but which is consistent with everything which has been seen before, is one of extreme difficulty
In The Feynman Lectures in Physics (1964), Vol. 2, Lecture 20, p.20-10 to p.20-11.
Science quotes on:  |  Allow (51)  |  Condition (362)  |  Contradiction (69)  |  Create (245)  |  Difficult (263)  |  Difficulty (201)  |  Discipline (85)  |  Do (1905)  |  Electric (76)  |  Electric Field (3)  |  Everything (489)  |  Extreme (78)  |  Fact (1257)  |  Field (378)  |  Free (239)  |  Game (104)  |  Happen (282)  |  Happy (108)  |  Idea (881)  |  Imagination (349)  |  Imagine (176)  |  Kind (564)  |  Know (1538)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Law (913)  |  Law Of Physics (5)  |  Limit (294)  |  Limited (102)  |  Misunderstand (3)  |  Must (1525)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Never (1089)  |  New (1273)  |  Next (238)  |  Other (2233)  |  Ourselves (247)  |  Overlook (33)  |  People (1031)  |  Physic (515)  |  Physics (564)  |  Picture (148)  |  Problem (731)  |  Question (649)  |  Say (989)  |  Situation (117)  |  Something (718)  |  Speak (240)  |  Test (221)  |  Thing (1914)  |  Think (1122)  |  Thought (995)  |  Time (1911)  |  Try (296)  |  Wave (112)  |  Way (1214)  |  Weak (73)  |  Whatever (234)  |  Whole (756)  |  Will (2350)  |  Wish (216)

There may only be a small number of laws, which are self-consistent and which lead to complicated beings like ourselves. … And even if there is only one unique set of possible laws, it is only a set of equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to govern? Is the ultimate unified theory so compelling that it brings about its own existence?
Lecture (1987), 'The Origin of the Universe', collected in Black Holes And Baby Universes And Other Essays (1993), 99.
Science quotes on:  |  Being (1276)  |  Breathe (49)  |  Compelling (11)  |  Complicated (117)  |  Equation (138)  |  Existence (481)  |  Fire (203)  |  Govern (66)  |  Law (913)  |  Lead (391)  |  Number (710)  |  Ourselves (247)  |  Possible (560)  |  Self (268)  |  Set (400)  |  Small (489)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Ultimate (152)  |  Unified Theory (7)  |  Unique (72)  |  Universe (900)

We come finally, however, to the relation of the ideal theory to real world, or “real” probability. If he is consistent a man of the mathematical school washes his hands of applications. To someone who wants them he would say that the ideal system runs parallel to the usual theory: “If this is what you want, try it: it is not my business to justify application of the system; that can only be done by philosophizing; I am a mathematician”. In practice he is apt to say: “try this; if it works that will justify it”. But now he is not merely philosophizing; he is committing the characteristic fallacy. Inductive experience that the system works is not evidence.
In A Mathematician’s Miscellany (1953). Reissued as Béla Bollobás (ed.), Littlewood’s Miscellany (1986), 73.
Science quotes on:  |  Application (257)  |  Business (156)  |  Characteristic (154)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Experience (494)  |  Fallacy (31)  |  Ideal (110)  |  Inductive (20)  |  Man (2252)  |  Mathematician (407)  |  Merely (315)  |  Parallel (46)  |  Philosophy (409)  |  Practice (212)  |  Probability (135)  |  Real World (15)  |  Relation (166)  |  Run (158)  |  Say (989)  |  School (227)  |  System (545)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Try (296)  |  Want (504)  |  Will (2350)  |  Work (1402)  |  World (1850)

Yet the widespread [planetary theories], advanced by Ptolemy and most other [astronomers], although consistent with the numerical [data], seemed likewise to present no small difficulty. For these theories were not adequate unless they also conceived certain equalizing circles, which made the planet appear to move at all times with uniform velocity neither on its deferent sphere nor about its own [epicycle's] center … Therefore, having become aware of these [defects], I often considered whether there could perhaps be found a more reasonable arrangement of circles, from which every apparent irregularity would be derived while everything in itself would move uniformly, as is required by the rule of perfect motion.
From Nicholaus Copernicus, Edward Rosen (trans.), Pawel Czartoryski (ed.) 'Commentariolus', in Nicholas Copernicus: Minor Works (1985), 81-83. Excerpted in Lisa M. Dolling, Arthur F. Gianelli and Glenn N. Statile (eds.) The Tests of Time: Readings in the Development of Physical Theory (2003), 40.
Science quotes on:  |  Adequate (50)  |  Advanced (12)  |  Apparent (85)  |  Appear (122)  |  Arrangement (93)  |  Astronomer (97)  |  Aware (36)  |  Become (821)  |  Center (35)  |  Certain (557)  |  Circle (117)  |  Consider (428)  |  Considered (12)  |  Data (162)  |  Defect (31)  |  Derived (5)  |  Difficulty (201)  |  Epicycle (4)  |  Everything (489)  |  Irregularity (12)  |  More (2558)  |  Most (1728)  |  Motion (320)  |  Move (223)  |  Numerical (39)  |  Other (2233)  |  Perfect (223)  |  Planet (402)  |  Planetary (29)  |  Present (630)  |  Ptolemy (19)  |  Reasonable (29)  |  Required (108)  |  Rule (307)  |  Small (489)  |  Sphere (118)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Time (1911)  |  Uniform (20)  |  Uniformly (2)  |  Velocity (51)  |  Widespread (23)


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
Quotations by:Albert EinsteinIsaac NewtonLord KelvinCharles DarwinSrinivasa RamanujanCarl SaganFlorence NightingaleThomas EdisonAristotleMarie CurieBenjamin FranklinWinston ChurchillGalileo GalileiSigmund FreudRobert BunsenLouis PasteurTheodore RooseveltAbraham LincolnRonald ReaganLeonardo DaVinciMichio KakuKarl PopperJohann GoetheRobert OppenheimerCharles Kettering  ... (more people)

Quotations about:Atomic  BombBiologyChemistryDeforestationEngineeringAnatomyAstronomyBacteriaBiochemistryBotanyConservationDinosaurEnvironmentFractalGeneticsGeologyHistory of ScienceInventionJupiterKnowledgeLoveMathematicsMeasurementMedicineNatural ResourceOrganic ChemistryPhysicsPhysicianQuantum TheoryResearchScience and ArtTeacherTechnologyUniverseVolcanoVirusWind PowerWomen ScientistsX-RaysYouthZoology  ... (more topics)
Sitewide search within all Today In Science History pages:
Visit our Science and Scientist Quotations index for more Science Quotes from archaeologists, biologists, chemists, geologists, inventors and inventions, mathematicians, physicists, pioneers in medicine, science events and technology.

Names index: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Categories index: | 1 | 2 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Thank you for sharing.
- 100 -
Sophie Germain
Gertrude Elion
Ernest Rutherford
James Chadwick
Marcel Proust
William Harvey
Johann Goethe
John Keynes
Carl Gauss
Paul Feyerabend
- 90 -
Antoine Lavoisier
Lise Meitner
Charles Babbage
Ibn Khaldun
Euclid
Ralph Emerson
Robert Bunsen
Frederick Banting
Andre Ampere
Winston Churchill
- 80 -
John Locke
Bronislaw Malinowski
Bible
Thomas Huxley
Alessandro Volta
Erwin Schrodinger
Wilhelm Roentgen
Louis Pasteur
Bertrand Russell
Jean Lamarck
- 70 -
Samuel Morse
John Wheeler
Nicolaus Copernicus
Robert Fulton
Pierre Laplace
Humphry Davy
Thomas Edison
Lord Kelvin
Theodore Roosevelt
Carolus Linnaeus
- 60 -
Francis Galton
Linus Pauling
Immanuel Kant
Martin Fischer
Robert Boyle
Karl Popper
Paul Dirac
Avicenna
James Watson
William Shakespeare
- 50 -
Stephen Hawking
Niels Bohr
Nikola Tesla
Rachel Carson
Max Planck
Henry Adams
Richard Dawkins
Werner Heisenberg
Alfred Wegener
John Dalton
- 40 -
Pierre Fermat
Edward Wilson
Johannes Kepler
Gustave Eiffel
Giordano Bruno
JJ Thomson
Thomas Kuhn
Leonardo DaVinci
Archimedes
David Hume
- 30 -
Andreas Vesalius
Rudolf Virchow
Richard Feynman
James Hutton
Alexander Fleming
Emile Durkheim
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Oppenheimer
Robert Hooke
Charles Kettering
- 20 -
Carl Sagan
James Maxwell
Marie Curie
Rene Descartes
Francis Crick
Hippocrates
Michael Faraday
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Francis Bacon
Galileo Galilei
- 10 -
Aristotle
John Watson
Rosalind Franklin
Michio Kaku
Isaac Asimov
Charles Darwin
Sigmund Freud
Albert Einstein
Florence Nightingale
Isaac Newton


by Ian Ellis
who invites your feedback
Thank you for sharing.
Today in Science History
Sign up for Newsletter
with quiz, quotes and more.