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Milton Wright
(17 Nov 1828 - 3 Apr 1917)
American churchman who was the father of the aviators Wilbur and Orville Wright. He was a Bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
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Science Quotes by Milton Wright (4 quotes)
Men will never fly, because flying is reserved for angels.
— Milton Wright
Attributed. As seen, for example, in Michael Blow, Men of Science and Invention (1961), 74. The subject quote can be found in several other books, and it is amusing to see how some writers’ imaginations create different contexts for it.
Thursday, December 17 [1903]. In the afternoon about 5:30 we received the following telegram from Orvill[e], dated Kitty Hawk, N.C., Dec. 17. “Bishop M. Wright: “Success four flights Thursday morning all against a twenty-one mile wind started from level with engine power alone average speed through the air thirty one miles—longest 57 seconds. XXX home Christmas. Orville Wright.”
— Milton Wright
From Milton’s handwritten Diary entry for Thur, 17 Dec 1903. Milton is now age 75.
Thursday, May 30 [1912]. This morning at 3:15, Wilbur passed away, aged 45 years, 1 month, and 14 days. A short life, full of consequences. An unfailing intellect, imperturbable temper, great selfreliance and as great modesty, seeing the right clearly, pursuing it steadily, he lived and died. Many called - many telegrams. (Probably over a thousand.)
— Milton Wright
From Milton’s handwritten Diary entry for Thur, 30 May 1912.
Wilbur, a bright star among the Wright intellects…
— Milton Wright
Snippet from Milton’s Diary entry for Sat, 1 Jan 1916. Milton was in good health, and reflecting on his own advancing age (88), compared to the ages reached by other relatives and ancestors who had passed on. In the subject quote, he continued by writing [Wilbur] “…has been gone nearly four years.” Wilbur had died at age 45 (1912) after suffering from typhoid fever.
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) -- 
