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William Whewell Biography

William Whewell

William Whewell FRS FGS (/ˈhjuːəl/ HEW-əl; 24 May 1794 – 6 March 1866) was an English polymath, scientist, Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, and historian of science. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. In his time as a student there, he achieved distinction in both poetry and mathematics.

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William Whewell Quotes

Those who have obtained the farthest insight into Nature have been, in all ages, firm believers in God.

Age, Faith, Firm, Insight, Nature

Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting form of error. Not only so; but scarcely any attempt is entirely a failure; scarcely any theory, the result of steady thought, is altogether false; no tempting form of Error is without some latent charm derived from Truth.

Detection, Errors, Failure, Tempting, Trials

The earlier truths are not expelled but absorbed, not contradicted but extended; and the history of each science, which may thus appear like a succession of revolutions, is, in reality, a series of developements.

Expelled, May, Reality, Revolution, Science, Series

In art, truth is a means to an end; in science, it is the only end.

Art, Mean, Science, Truth, Truth Is

The system becomes more coherent as it is further extended. The elements which we require for explaining a new class of facts are already contained in our system. In false theories, the contrary is the case.

Case, Class, Contained, Elements, Explaining, Facts

To discover the laws of operative power in material productions, whether formed by man or brought into being by Nature herself, is the work of a science, and is indeed what we more especially term Science.

Formed, Law, Men, Productions, Science, Term

Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting form of error.

Errors, Excellence, Step, Trial, Trials, True

We need very much a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I should incline to call him a scientist. [The first use of the word. ]

Names, Needs, Science, Scientist, Use, Word

Hence no force, however great, can stretch a cord, however fine, into a horizontal line which is accurately straight: there will always be a bending downwards.

Bending, Force, Horizontal, Line, Lines

It is a test of true theories not only to account for but to predict phenomena.

Accounts, Predict, Test, Tests, Theory, True

In order that the facts obtained by observation and experiment may be capable of being used in furtherance of our exact and solid knowledge, they must be apprehended and analysed according to some Conceptions which, applied for this purpose, give distinct and definite results, such as can be steadily taken hold of and reasoned from.

Analysed, Give, Knowledge, Science, Steadily, Taken

We cannot observe external things without some degree of Thought; nor can we reflect upon our Thoughts, without being influenced in the course of our reflection by the Things which we have observed.

Courses, Degree, Degrees, Observed, Reflect, Reflection

Every failure is a step to success.

Congratulations, Failure, Moving On, Step, Success

The present generation finds itself the heir of a vast patrimony of science; and it must needs concern us to know the steps by which these possessions were acquired, and the documents by which they are secured to us and our heirs for ever.

Acquired, Finds, Generations, Heirs, Needs

Gold and iron at the present day, as in ancient times, are the rulers of the world; and the great events in the world of mineral art are not the discovery of new substances, but of new and rich localities of old ones.

Art, Discovery, Rich, Rulers, Science, World

Conscience is the reason employed about questions of right and wrong.

Conscience, Employed, Reason, Right

Nobody since Newton has been able to use geometrical methods to the same extent for the like purposes; and as we read the Principia we feel as when we are in an ancient armoury where the weapons are of gigantic size; and as we look at them we marvel what manner of man he was who could use as a weapon what we can scarcely lift as a burden.

Gigantic, Looks, Men, Purpose, Size, Use

The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this; our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed;. . . because if the rule prevails, it includes all cases; and will determine them all, if we can only calculate its real consequences. Hence it will predict the results of new combinations, as well as explain the appearances which have occurred in old ones. And that it does this with certainty and correctness, is one mode in which the hypothesis is to be verified as right and useful.

Accept, Acceptance, Appearances, Real, Results, Science

The main object of the work was to present such a survey of the advances already made in physical knowledge, and of the mode in which they have been made, as might serve as a real and firm basis for our speculations concerning the progress of human knowledge, and the processes by which sciences are formed.

Basis, Knowledge, Might, Progress, Real, Survey

Every man has obligations which belong to his station. Duties extend beyond obligations, and direct the affections, desires, and intentions, as well as the actions.

Action, Belong, Desire, Desires, Duties, Men

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