It is a governing principle of nature, that the agency which can produce most good, when perverted from its proper aim, is most productive of evil. It behooves the well-intentioned, therefore, vigorously to watch the tendency of even their most highly prized institutions, since that which was established in the interests of the right, may so easily become the agent of the wrong.
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Progress cannot be organized.
Progress cannot be organized.
Facts do not "speak for themselves." They speak for or against competing theories. Facts divorced from theories or visions are read more
Facts do not "speak for themselves." They speak for or against competing theories. Facts divorced from theories or visions are mere isolated curiosities.
There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of society read more
There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of society has been enormous.
It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, read more
It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because read more
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die out, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
Almost everyone who has read history in a more than casual manner knows that when the great figure of God read more
Almost everyone who has read history in a more than casual manner knows that when the great figure of God appears in a controversy, the shooting cannot be far off.
The smashing of idols is in itself such a preoccupation that it is almost impossible for the iconoclast to look read more
The smashing of idols is in itself such a preoccupation that it is almost impossible for the iconoclast to look clearly into a future when there will not be many idols left to smash.
Unbounded morality ultimately becomes counterproductive even in terms of the same moral principles being sought. The law of diminishing returns read more
Unbounded morality ultimately becomes counterproductive even in terms of the same moral principles being sought. The law of diminishing returns applies to morality.
There is no such thing as philosophy-free science; there is only science whose philosophical baggage is taken on board without read more
There is no such thing as philosophy-free science; there is only science whose philosophical baggage is taken on board without examination.
