Thomas Huxley
Thomas Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley PC PRS FLSwas an English biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth4 May 1825
religion desire proposal
. . . I fail to find a trace [in Protestantism] of any desire to set reason free. The most that can be discovered is a proposal to change masters. From being a slave of the papacy, the intellect was to become the serf of the Bible.
men two religion
I would rather be the offspring of two apes than be a man and afraid to face the truth.
honesty believe religion
It ought not to be unpleasant to say that which one honestly believes or disbelieves. That it so constantly is painful to do so, is quite enough obstacle to the progress of mankind in that most valuable of all qualities, honesty of word or of deed.
religion sin blind
Skepticism is the highest duty and blind faith the one unpardonable sin.
duty east hunger learn mental order satisfy unable wind
Learn what is true, in order to do what is right, is the summing up of the whole duty of man, for all who are unable to satisfy their mental hunger with the east wind of authority.
medicine woes
The only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind, is wisdom.
truth lying science
Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
inspiring freedom men
It is far better for a man to go wrong in freedom than to go right in chains.
harmful held truths
The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
begin fate
It is the customary fate of new truths, to begin as heresies, and to end as superstitions.
beautiful great hypothesis science tragedy ugly
The great tragedy of science is the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.
giving doubt unqualified
Give unqualified assent to no propositions but those the truth of which is so clear and distinct that they cannot be doubted. The enunciation of this first great commandment of science consecrated doubt.
truth ideas may
To say that an idea is necessary is simply to affirm that we cannot conceive the contrary; and the fact that we cannot conceive the contrary of any belief may be a presumption, but is certainly no proof, of its truth.
life-is-too-short slaying oneself
Life is too short to occupy oneself with the slaying of the slain more than once.