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John Herschel Biography

Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet KH FRS (/ˈhɜːrʃəl, ˈhɛər-/; 7 March 1792 – 11 May 1871) was an English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer, who also did valuable botanical work. He was the son of Mary Baldwin and astronomer William Herschel, nephew of astronomer Caroline Herschel and the father of twelve children.

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John Herschel Quotes

The barrier has begun to yield.

Astronomy, Barrier, Begun, Cosmology, Yield

To the natural philosopher, there is no natural object unimportant or trifling. From the least of Nature's works he may learn the greatest lessons.

Learn, Lessons, May, Nature, Works

Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceives neither novelty nor beauty, [the scientist and natural philosopher] walks in the midst of wonders.

Eye, Law, Midst, Perceives, Thinking, Uninformed

Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue.

Cornerstone, Inspirational, Respect, Self Esteem, Virtue

Occurrences which according to received theories ought not to happen, are the facts which serve as clues to new discoveries

Clue, Discovery, Facts, Happen, Received

No doubt the testimony of natural reason, on whatever exercised, must, of necessity, stop short of those truths which it is the object of revelation to make known; still it places the existence and personal attributes of the Deity on such grounds as to render doubts absurd and atheism ridiculous.

Atheism, Deities, Doubt, Known, Object, Stop

It can hardly be pressed forcibly enough on the attention of the student of nature, that there is scarcely any natural phenomenon which can be fully and completely explained, in all its circumstances, without a union of several, perhaps of all, the sciences.

Attention, Circumstances, Nature, Phenomenon, Science

Geology, in the magnitude and sublimity of the objects of which it treats, undoubtedly ranks, in the scale of the sciences, next to astronomy.

Astronomy, Geology, Next, Scale, Sciences, Treats

The stars are the land-marks of the universe.

Land, Mark, Stars, Universe

First, In showing in how to avoid attempting impossibilities. Second, In securing us from important mistakes in attempting what is, in itself possible, by means either inadequate or actually opposed to the end in view. Thirdly, In enabling us to accomplish our ends in the easiest, shortest, most economical, and most effectual manner. Fourth, In inducing us to attempt, and enabling us to accomplish, object which, but for such knowledge, we should never have thought of understanding. On the ways that a knowledge of the order of nature can be of use.

Impossibilities, Knowledge, Mean, Mistake, Nature, Use

Were I to pray for a taste which should stand me in good stead under every variety of circumstances and be a source of happiness and a cheerfulness to me during life and a shield against its ills, however things might go amiss and the world frown upon me, it would be a taste for reading.

Book, Circumstances, Frown, Reading, Would Be

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.

Discoveries, Discovery, Knowledge, Principles, Science, Strict

The novel, in its best form, I regard as one of the most powerful engines of civilization ever invented.

Book, Civilization, Novel, Powerful, Regard

A mind which has once imbibed a taste for scientific enquiry, and has learnt the habit of applying its principles readily to the cases which occur, has within itself an inexhaustible source of pure and exciting contemplations.

Enquiry, Mind, Principles, Science, Scientific, Taste

There is a pinciple in the heart of music which has yet to be discovered.

Discovered, Heart, Music, Pinciple

Music and dancing (the more the pity) have become so closely associated with ideas of riot and debauchery among the less cultivated classes, that a taste for them, for their own sakes, can hardly be said to exist, and before they can be recommended as innocent or safe amusements, a very great change of ideas must take place.

Associated, Class, Closely, Dancing, Ideas, Safe

There is a gentle, but perfectly irresistible coercion in a habit of reading well directed, over the whole tenor of a man's character and conduct, which is not the less effectual because it works insensibly, and because it is really the last thing he dreams of.

Character, Directed, Dream, Habit, Reading

Speculations apparently the most unprofitable have almost invariably been those from which the greatest practical applications have emanated.

Discovery, Emanated, Science, Speculation, Speculations, Unprofitable

The besetting evil of our age is the temptation to squander and dilute thought on a thousand different lines of inquiry.

Age, Evil, Temptation, Thousand

[When nature appears complicated:] The moment we contemplate it as it is, and attain a position from which we can take a commanding view, though but of a small part of its plan, we never fail to recognize that sublime simplicity on which the mind rests satisfied that it has attained the truth.

Fail, Nature, Science, Sublime, Truth, View

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