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Joseph Priestley Quotes

Philosopher

Joseph Priestley was an English philosopher, chemist, and deist. He is known for his contributions to the study of gases, particularly for his discovery of oxygen. Priestley was an advocate of empiricism in philosophy and also made contributions to the field of education.

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Famous Joseph Priestley Quotes

“It is known to all persons who are conversant in experimental philosophy, that there are many little attentions and precautions necessary to be observed in the conducting of experiments, which cannot well be described in words, but which it is needless to describe, since practice will necessarily suggest them; though, like all other arts in which the hands and fingers are made use of, it is only much practice that can enable a person to go through complex experiments, of this or any kind, with ease and readiness.”

Source: Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air

“From the fame opinion of a soul distinct from the body came the practice of praying, first for the dead, and then to them with a long train of other absurd opinions, and superstitious practices.”

Firsts Long Soul Body Opinion Practice Praying Fame Train Absurd Superstitious

Book:An History of the Corruption of Christianity

Source: An History of the Corruption of Christianity

“How glorious, then, is the prospect, the reverse of all the past, which is now opening upon us, and upon the world. Government, we may now expect to see, not only in theory and in books but in actual practice, calculated for the general good, and taking no more upon it than the general good requires, leaving all men the enjoyment of as many of their natural rights as possible, and no more interfering with matters of religion, with men's notions concerning God, and a future state, than with philosophy, or medicine.”

Source: Letters to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke: Occasioned by His Reflections on the Revolution in France, &c