Quotessence
Home / Authors / Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy

Humphry Davy Quotes

Chemist

Filter quotes by topic

AllScienceMenMindIfsMayNaturalShouldSocialThinkingConnectedCountryDiscoveryFactsInstrumentsMannersMatterPeculiarPhilosopherPhilosophyProfound

Famous Humphry Davy Quotes

“John Dalton was a very singular Man: He has none of the manners or ways of the world. A tolerable mathematician He gained his livelihood I believe by teaching the mathematics to young people. He pursued science always with mathematical views. He seemed little attentive to the labours of men except when they countenanced or confirmed his own ideas... He was a very disinterested man, seemed to have no ambition beyond that of being thought a good Philosopher. He was a very coarse Experimenter & almost always found the results he required.—Memory & observation were subordinate qualities in his mind. He followed with ardour analogies & inductions & however his claims to originality may admit of question I have no doubt that he was one of the most original philosophers of his time & one of the most ingenious.”

PhilosophyScienceTeacherMathematicianIngeniousDaltonJohn Dalton
Author:Humphry Davy
Create image

“To me there never has been a higher source of honour or distinction than that connected with advances in science. I have not possessed enough of the eagle in my character to make a direct flight to the loftiest altitudes in the social world; and I certainly never endeavored to reach those heights by using the creeping powers of the reptile, who in ascending, generally chooses the dirtiest path, because it is the easiest.”

WorldHas BeensEnoughCharacterScienceSocialPathSourceHigherAmbitionDiscoveryDirectConnectedFlightHeightDistinctionHonourPossessedEaglesReptilesAscendingAdvances In Science
Author:Humphry Davy
Create image

“Geology, perhaps more than any other department of natural philosophy, is a science of contemplation. It requires no experience or complicated apparatus, no minute processes upon the unknown processes of matter. It demands only an enquiring mind and senses alive to the facts almost everywhere presented in nature. And as it may be acquired without much difficulty, so it may be improved without much painful exertion.”

MindMayMatterPhilosophyFactsScienceProcessNaturalAliveMinutesDemandDifficultyPainfulComplicatedSensesContemplationDepartmentGeologyExertionNatural Philosophy
Author:Humphry Davy
Create image

“Every discovery opens a new field for investigation of facts, shows us the imperfection of our theories. It has justly been said, that the greater the circle of light, the greater the boundary of darkness by which it is surrounded.”

SaidFactsShowsLightScienceDarknessGreaterFieldsTheoryDiscoveryCirclesBoundariesImperfectionInvestigation
Book:The Collected Works of Sir Humphry Davy ...: Salmonia, or Days of fly-fishing. Consolation in travel, or The last days of a philosopher
Create image

“The progression of physical science is much more connected with your prosperity than is usually imagined. You owe to experimental philosophy some of the most important and peculiar of your advantages. It is not by foreign conquests chiefly that you are become great, but by a conquest of nature in your own country.”

ImportantCountryPhilosophyScienceAdvantageProsperityConnectedExperimentsPeculiarConquestProgressionPhysical Science
Book:The Collected Works of Sir Humphry Davy (etc.)
Create image

“Oh, most magnificent and noble Nature! Have I not worshipped thee with such a love As never mortal man before displayed? Adored thee in thy majesty of visible creation, And searched into thy hidden and mysterious ways As Poet, as Philosopher, as Sage?”

MenWayScienceCreationPoetResearchPhilosopherNobleMysteriousMortalsTheeVisibleMagnificentSageMajestyMysterious Ways
Book:Fragmentary Remains, Literary and Scientific, of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. ... With a sketch of his life, and selections from his correspondence. Edited by his brother John Davy
Create image

“The beginning of civilisation is the discovery of some useful arts, by which men acquire property, comforts, or luxuries. The necessity or desire of preserving them leads to laws and social institutions. The discovery of peculiar arts gives superiority to particular nations ... to subjugate other nations, who learn their arts, and ultimately adopt their manners;- so that in reality the origin as well as the progress and improvement of civil society is founded in mechanical and chemical inventions.”

MenGivingWellsArtRealityLawScienceDesireNationsSocialProgressParticularComfortCivilizationDiscoveryInstitutionsPropertyImprovementInventionLuxuryMannersAcquireChemicalsPeculiarSuperiorityCivilisationCivil SocietySocial Institutions
Book:Salmonia: or, Days of fly-fishing; in a series of conversations: with some account of the habits of fishes belonging to the genus Salmo. Consolation in travel, or, The last days of a philosopher
Create image

“And by the influence of heat, light, and electrical powers, there is a constant series of changes; matter assumes new forms, the destruction of one order of beings tends to the conservation of another; solution and consolidation, decay and renovation, are connected; and whilst the parts of the system continue in a state of fluctuation and change, the order and harmony of the whole remain unalterable.”

MatterStatesWholeLightFormScienceOrderChangeAnimalInfluenceSolutionsDestructionHarmonyConstantAssumingSeriesConnectedSubstanceHeatDecayElectricityConservationElectricalFluctuationConsolidationRenovationElectrical Power
Author:Humphry Davy
Create image

“Cuvier had even in his address & manner the character of a superior Man, much general power & eloquence in conversation & great variety of information on scientific as well as popular subjects. I should say of him that he is the most distinguished man of talents I have ever known on the continent: but I doubt if He be entitled to the appellation of a Man of Genius.”

IfsMenShouldWellsCharacterScienceKnownDoubtSubjectsTalentInformationGeniusConversationSuperiorsVarietyAddressesContinentsEntitledBiographiesDistinguishedEloquenceSuperior Man
Author:Humphry Davy
Create image

“There are very few persons who pursue science with true dignity.”

MenPersonsScienceDignityPursue
Book:Salmonia: or, Days of fly-fishing; in a series of conversations: with some account of the habits of fishes belonging to the genus Salmo. Consolation in travel, or, The last days of a philosopher
Create image

“By science calmed, over the peaceful soul, Bright with eternal Wisdom's lucid ray, Peace, meek of eye, extends her soft control, And drives the puny Passions far away.”

SoulWisdomEyeSciencePassionEternalPeacefulRaysFar AwayMeek
Book:The Collected Works of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. ...: Memoirs of the life of Sir Humphry Davy, by his brother, John Davy
Create image