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Home > Dictionary of Science Quotations > Scientist Names Index W > Johannes Wislicenus Quotes

Thumbnail of Johannes Wislicenus (source)
Johannes Wislicenus
(24 Jun 1835 - 5 Dec 1902)

German chemist.


Science Quotes by Johannes Wislicenus (2 quotes)

If molecules can be structurally identical and yet possess dissimilar properties, this can be explained only on the ground that the difference is due to a different arrangement of the atoms in space.
— Johannes Wislicenus
In Annalen der Chemie (1873), 166, 47, translated in A. Ihde, The Development of Modern Chemistry (1964), 326.
Science quotes on:  |  Arrangement (93)  |  Atom (381)  |  Difference (355)  |  Different (595)  |  Dissimilar (6)  |  Due (143)  |  Explain (334)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Ground (222)  |  Identical (55)  |  Molecule (185)  |  Possess (157)  |  Property (177)  |  Space (523)  |  Structure (365)

It is one of the signs of the times that modern chemists hold themselves bound and consider themselves in a position to give an explanation for everything, and when their knowledge fails them to make sure of supernatural explanations. Such a treatment of scientific subjects, not many degrees removed from a belief in witches and spirit-rapping, even Wislicenus considers permissible.
— Johannes Wislicenus
In H. Kolbe, 'Sign of the Times', Journal für Praktische Chemie (1877), 15, 473. Trans. W. H. Brock.
Science quotes on:  |  Belief (615)  |  Bound (120)  |  Chemist (169)  |  Consider (428)  |  Degree (277)  |  Everything (489)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Fail (191)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Modern (402)  |  Permissible (9)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Spirit (278)  |  Subject (543)  |  Supernatural (26)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Time (1911)  |  Treatment (135)  |  Johannes Wislicenus (4)  |  Witch (4)



Quotes by others about Johannes Wislicenus (2)

A Dr van’t Hoff of the veterinary college at Utrecht, appears to have no taste for exact chemical investigation. He finds it a less arduous task to mount Pegasus (evidently borrowed from the veterinary school) and to proclaim in his La Chemie dans l’espace how, during his bold fight to the top of the chemical Parnassus, the atoms appeared to him to have grouped themselves together throughout universal space. … I should have taken no notice of this matter had not Wislicenus oddly enough written a preface to the pamphlet, and not by way of a joke but in all seriousness recommended it a worthwhile performance.
'Signs of the Times', Journal fur Praktische Chemie, 15, 473. Trans. W. H. Brock.
Science quotes on:  |  Atom (381)  |  Biography (254)  |  Bold (22)  |  Borrow (31)  |  Chemical (303)  |  College (71)  |  Enough (341)  |  Evidently (26)  |  Find (1014)  |  Investigation (250)  |  Joke (90)  |  Matter (821)  |  Mount (43)  |  Notice (81)  |  Performance (51)  |  Proclaim (31)  |  Recommend (27)  |  School (227)  |  Seriousness (10)  |  Space (523)  |  Task (152)  |  Taste (93)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Throughout (98)  |  Together (392)  |  Top (100)  |  Universal (198)  |  Way (1214)  |  Worthwhile (18)

It is one of the signs of the times that modern chemists hold themselves bound and consider themselves in a position to give an explanation for everything, and when their knowledge fails them to make sure of supernatural explanations. Such a treatment of scientific subjects, not many degrees removed from a belief in witches and spirit-rapping, even Wislicenus considers permissible.
In H. Kolbe, 'Sign of the Times', Journal für Praktische Chemie (1877), 15, 473. Trans. W. H. Brock.
Science quotes on:  |  Belief (615)  |  Bound (120)  |  Chemist (169)  |  Consider (428)  |  Degree (277)  |  Everything (489)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Fail (191)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Modern (402)  |  Permissible (9)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Spirit (278)  |  Subject (543)  |  Supernatural (26)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Time (1911)  |  Treatment (135)  |  Witch (4)


See also:
  • 24 Jun - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Wislicenus'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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