Home / Quotes / Quote by John Herschel

Quote by John Herschel

“Almost all the greatest discoveries in astronomy have resulted from what we have elsewhere termed Residual Phenomena, of a qualitative or numerical kind, of such portions of the numerical or quantitative results of observation as remain outstanding and unaccounted for, after subducting and allowing for all that would result from the strict application of known principles.”

Quote by John Herschel

Author

Sir John Herschel was a British astronomer, mathematician, and chemist, renowned for his contributions to astronomy and photography. He was born on March 7, 1792, and died on May 11, 1871. more

You May Also Like

“As in Mathematicks, so in Natural Philosophy, the Investigation of difficult Things by the Method of Analysis, ought ever to precede the Method of Composition. This Analysis consists in making Experiments and Observations, and in drawing general Conclusions from them by Induction, and admitting of no Objections against the Conclusions, but such as are taken from Experiments, or other certain Truths. For Hypotheses are not to be regarded in experimental Philosophy.”

“As in the experimental sciences, truth cannot be distinguished from error as long as firm principles have not been established through the rigorous observation of facts.”

Long Facts Science Principles Errors Observation Firm Distinguished Experimental Science

Author:Louis Pasteur

“At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be sentient is nevertheless composed of atoms that are insentient. The phenomena open to our observation so not contradict this conclusion or conflict with it. Rather they lead us by the hand and compel us to believe that the animate is born, as I maintain, of the insentient.”

Believe Hands Science Belief Born Stage Conflict Conclusion Observation Atoms Nevertheless

Author:Lucretius

“Birds ... are sensitive indicators of the environment, a sort of "ecological litmus paper," ... The observation and recording of bird populations over time lead inevitably to environmental awareness and can signal impending changes.”

Science Change Environment Awareness Paper Bird Environmental Population Observation Sensitive Signals Ecological Indicators

Book:Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania

Source: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania

“But by far the greatest hindrance and aberration of the human understanding proceeds from the dullness, incompetency, and deceptions of the senses; in that things which strike the sense outweigh things which do not immediately strike it, though they be more important. Hence it is that speculation commonly ceases where sight ceases; insomuch that of things invisible there is little or no observation.”

Humans Littles Important Science Understanding Sight Strikes Senses Invisible Cease Observation Deception Speculation Hindrance Dullness Aberration

Book:The Great Instauration

Source: The Great Instauration

“By no amount of reasoning can we altogether eliminate all contingency from our world. Moreover, pure speculation alone will not enable us to get a determinate picture of the existing world. We must eliminate some of the conflicting possibilities, and this can be brought about only by experiment and observation.”

World Science Possibility Amount Pure Conflict Experiments Observation Reasoning Our World Speculation Contingency

Author:Morris Raphael Cohen

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.”

Children Born Philosophical Ignorant Life And Love Carpe Diem Family History Roman Philosophers

Book:Brutus

Source: Brutus

“Common sense is science exactly in so far as it fulfills the ideal of common sense; that is, sees facts as they are, or at any rate, without the distortion of prejudice, and reasons from them in accordance with the dictates of sound judgment. And science is simply common sense at its best, that is, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic.”

Reason Facts Science Sound Common Judgment Ideals Logic Accounts Prejudice Rate Common Sense Observation Accurate Distortion Fallacy Sound Judgment

Book:An Introduction to the Study of Zoology

Source: An Introduction to the Study of Zoology

“Even one well-made observation will be enough in many cases, just as one well-constructed experiment often suffices for the establishment of a law.”

Wells Made Enough Law Science Cases Experiments Observation Establishment

Author:Emile Durkheim

“Exercising the right of occasional suppression and slight modification, it is truly absurd to see how plastic a limited number of observations become, in the hands of men with preconceived ideas.”

Men Ideas Hands Science Numbers Exercise Absurd Observation Plastic Occasional Suppression Modification Preconceived Ideas

Author:Francis Galton