Nothing is so fatal to the progress of the human mind as to suppose that our views of science are ultimate; that there are no mysteries in nature; that our triumphs are complete, and that there are no new worlds to conquer.

Humphry Davy, quoted by Brian Cox, the Voltaire Lecture, 6 April 2010

Responses

  1. I can’t read that quote without thinking of the classic line by darts commentator Sid Waddell: ‘When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer… [Eric] Bristow’s only 27!’ (Then along came Phil Taylor.)

    PS: Delighted to see you risking the wrath of the Cabinet Office by posting this. ;)

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