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Quote by Charles Darwin

“About thirty years ago there was much talk that geologists ought only to observe and not theorise; and I well remember some one saying that at this rate a man might as well go into a gravel-pit and count the pebbles and describe the colours. How odd it is that anyone should not see that all observation must be for or against some view if it is to be of any service!”

Quote by Charles Darwin

Book:On the Origin of Species

Work

On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin's groundbreaking book presents a comprehensive explanation of the process of evolution, detailing how species change over time through natural selection. It is a foundational text in the study of biology and has had a profound impact on scientific thought and understanding of the natural world. more

Author

Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, is renowned as the founder of evolutionary biology. Born on February 12, 1809, in England, he passed away on April 19, 1882. Darwin is best known for his research on the theory of evolution, which proposed that species evolve through natural selection and survival of the fittest. more

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“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.”

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Author:John Herschel

“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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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Author:Emile Durkheim