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33 Mind-Blowing Quotes By Thomas Henry Huxley

Famous As: English Biologist and Anthropologist Specialising in Comparative Anatomy.
Born On: May 4, 1825
Died On: June 29, 1895
Born In: Ealing, London, England
Died At Age: 70
Thomas Henry Huxley was a renowned 19th century English biologist. He opposed the biblical theory of creation and supported Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. This got him the nickname "Darwin's Bulldog". In the early days of his career, he served in the ‘British Royal Navy’ and researched on various marine invertebrates. He sent his researches to his mentor who helped him in getting them published. His inputs in the study of marine biology, geology and the study of invertebrates, based on research and reason were remarkable. He was honored by the royal society at an early age of 26 for his contributions. He was retained by the navy to further research on the specimens he collected on the voyage. He further served as a lecturer and debated on his ideas of evolution. His debate at the Oxford was considered as a victory of Darwin’s ideas of evolution. He served as a professor at the Royal College of Surgeons and worked for the development of Marine Biology. His notable works include the essay ‘On the Physical Basis of Life’, which was inspired by his idea of life. Many awards and honors have been instituted after him, including the ‘Fellow of the Royal Society’. We bring to you a compilation of quotations and sayings which have been curated from the vast sea of his work and researches. Go through this collection of quotes and thoughts by Thomas Henry Huxley.
The man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by verification.

The man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by verification.

Thomas Henry Huxley
I am too much of a skeptic to deny the possibility of anything.

I am too much of a skeptic to deny the possibility of anything.

Thomas Henry Huxley
What we call rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts.

What we call rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts.

Thomas Henry Huxley
It is far better for a man to go wrong in freedom than to go right in chains.

It is far better for a man to go wrong in freedom than to go right in chains.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads or you shall learn nothing.

Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads or you shall learn nothing.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Science is simply common sense at its best, that is, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic.

Science is simply common sense at its best, that is, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic.

Thomas Henry Huxley
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Science commits suicide when it adopts a creed.

Science commits suicide when it adopts a creed.

Thomas Henry Huxley
The most considerable difference I note among men is not in their readiness to fall into error, but in their readiness to acknowledge these inevitable lapses.

The most considerable difference I note among men is not in their readiness to fall into error, but in their readiness to acknowledge these inevitable lapses.

Thomas Henry Huxley
To a clear eye the smallest fact is a window through which the infinite may be seen.

To a clear eye the smallest fact is a window through which the infinite may be seen.

Thomas Henry Huxley
It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.

It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.

Thomas Henry Huxley
There is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life.

There is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.

Thomas Henry Huxley
The only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind, is wisdom.

The only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind, is wisdom.

Thomas Henry Huxley
If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?

If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?

Thomas Henry Huxley
Do what you can to do what you ought, and leave hoping and fearing alone.

Do what you can to do what you ought, and leave hoping and fearing alone.

Thomas Henry Huxley
For once reality and his brains came into contact and the result was fatal.

For once reality and his brains came into contact and the result was fatal.

Thomas Henry Huxley
History warns us that it is the customary fate of new truths to begin as heresies and to end as superstitions.

History warns us that it is the customary fate of new truths to begin as heresies and to end as superstitions.

Thomas Henry Huxley
God give me strength to face a fact though it slay me.

God give me strength to face a fact though it slay me.

Thomas Henry Huxley
If individuality has no play, society does not advance; if individuality breaks out of all bonds, society perishes.

If individuality has no play, society does not advance; if individuality breaks out of all bonds, society perishes.

Thomas Henry Huxley
The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.

The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, whether you like it or not.

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, whether you like it or not.

Thomas Henry Huxley
How extremely stupid not to have thought of that

How extremely stupid not to have thought of that

Thomas Henry Huxley
The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.

The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.

Thomas Henry Huxley
In fact a favourite problem of Tyndall is—Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.

In fact a favourite problem of Tyndall is—Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.

Thomas Henry Huxley
There are savages without God in any proper sense of the word, but none without ghosts.

There are savages without God in any proper sense of the word, but none without ghosts.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.
 -- Thomas H. Huxley

Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. -- Thomas H. Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley
There are some people who see a great deal and some who see very little in the same things.

There are some people who see a great deal and some who see very little in the same things.

Thomas Henry Huxley
Can any one deny that the old Israelites conceived Jahveh not only in the image of a man, but in that of a changeable, irritable, and, occasionally, violent man?

Can any one deny that the old Israelites conceived Jahveh not only in the image of a man, but in that of a changeable, irritable, and, occasionally, violent man?

Thomas Henry Huxley
In fact a favourite problem of [John Tyndall] is—Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.

In fact a favourite problem of [John Tyndall] is—Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.

Thomas Henry Huxley