Thomas Henry Huxley

"The great tragedy of science is the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact."

"Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost."

"Skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin."

"The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

"The chess-board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, and the rules are what we call the laws of nature."

"Logical consequences are the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men."

"A man may be a very fair man and yet fail in the greatest moments of his life through some defect of feeling rather than of judgment."

"Patience and tenacity are indispensable in the conduct of great enterprises."

"Learn what is true in order to do what is right."

"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."

"Truth is precious, but so, I think, is freedom."

"Science is nothing but organized common sense."

"The strength and spirit of a man is what defrays the cost of his living."

"My strongest conviction is that I have the right to think and speak on all subjects, restrained only by the laws of the land and my sense of propriety."

"Kindness and intelligence do not always deliver peace."

"The universe has no beginning, and no end."

"Authority has every reason to fear the informed citizen."

"Man's place in nature is humble, yet sublime."

"The cruelty of nature is balanced by the tenderness of mankind."

"I have always been of opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do."

"There is one thing I feel pretty sure about, and that is that education would be less valued if it were less difficult."

"There is no greater tragedy than to die ignorant."

"The slightest knowledge that comes from direct experience is worth more than all the knowledge that comes from hearsay."

"Those who refuse to go beyond fact rarely get as far as fact."

"I would appeal to every honest man and woman to consider what will be the effect of disinterestedness on moral and social progress."

"Age makes no sense whatsoever. It can teach you nothing but sadness."

"The most vital function of life is thinking."

"There is but one hope for mankind, and that is that reason may overcome instinct."