Aphorisms and Reflections from the works of T. H. HuxleyHuxley, Thomas Henry
Philosophy
Aphorisms and Reflections from the works of T. H. Huxley
Huxley, Thomas Henry
Science
The body is a machine of the nature of an army.... Of this army each
cell is a soldier, an organ a brigade, the central nervous system
headquarters and field telegraph, the alimentary and circulatory system
the commissariat. Losses are made good by recruits born in camp, and the
life of the individual is a campaign, conducted successfully for a
number of years, but with certain defeat in the long run.
CXVII
So far as the laws of conduct are determined by the intellect, I
apprehend that they belong to science, and to that part of science which
is called morality. But the engagement of the affections in favour of
that particular kind of conduct which we call good, seems to me to be
something quite beyond mere science. And I cannot but think that it,
together with the awe and reverence, which have no kinship with base
fear, but arise whenever one tries to pierce below the surface of
things, whether they be material or spiritual, constitutes all that has
any unchangeable reality in religion.
CXVIII
Just as I think it would be a mistake to confound the science, morality,
with the affection, religion; so do I conceive it to be a most
lamentable and mischievous error, that the science, theology, is so
confounded in the minds of many--indeed, I might say, of the majority of
men.
CXIX
My belief is, that no human being, and no society composed of human
beings, ever did, or ever will, come to much, unless their conduct was
governed and guided by the love of some ethical ideal.
CXX
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make
yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether
you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned;
and, however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last
lesson that he learns thoroughly.
CXXI
The great end of life is not knowledge, but action. What men need is, as
much knowledge as they can assimilate and organise into a basis for
action; give them more and it may become injurious. One knows people who
are as heavy and stupid from undigested learning as others are from
over-fulness of meat and drink.
CXXII
There is no mode of exercising the faculty of observation and the
faculty of accurate reproduction of that which is observed, no
discipline which so readily tests error in these matters, as drawing
properly taught. And by that I do not mean artistic drawing; I mean
figuring natural objects. I do not wish to exaggerate, but I declare to
you that, in my judgment, the child who has been taught to make an
accurate elevation, plan and section of a pint pot has had an admirable
training in accuracy of eye and hand.
CXXIII
Accuracy is the foundation of everything else.
CXXIV
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