"The moment after, I began to respire 20 quarts of unmingled nitrous oxide. A thrilling, extending from the chest to the extremities, was almost immediately produced. I felt a sense of tangible extension highly pleasurable in every limb; my visible impressions were dazzling, and apparently magnified, I heard distinctly every sound in the room and was perfectly aware of my situation. By degrees, as the pleasurable sensations increased, I last all connection with external things; trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind, and were connected with words in such a manner, as to produce perceptions perfectly novel. I existed in a world of newly connected and newly modified ideas. I theorised — I imagined that I made discoveries. When I was awakened from this semi-delirious trance by Dr. Kinglake, who took the bag from my mouth, indignation and pride were the first feelings produced by the sight of the persons about me. My emotions were enthusiastic and sublime; and for a minute I walked round the room, perfectly regardless of what was said to me. As I recovered my former state of mind, I felt an inclination to communicate the discoveries I had made during the experiment. I endeavoured to recall the ideas, they were feeble and indistinct; one collection of terms, however, presented itself: and with the most intense belief and prophetic manner, I exclaimed to Dr Kinglake, "Nothing exists but thoughts!—the universe is composed of impressions, ideas, pleasures and pains!""
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Researches, Chemical and Philosophical: Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide, Or Dephlogisticated Nitrous Air, and Its Respiration (London: J. Johnson, 1800) pp. 487-489
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Humphry_Davy
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Humphry Davy
Sir Humphry Davy (17 December, 1778 – 29 May, 1829), often incorrectly spelled Humphrey, was a Cornish chemist who discovered several chemical elements and studied the human body's response to electricity. He is generally credited with inventing the Miners' Safety Lamp, although George Stephenson also claimed the invention.
35 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Humphry Davy →
Related Quotes
"A small piece of pure ... was placed upon an insulated disk of platina, connected with the negative side of the batte…"
"You write with great eloquence and truth on the effects of mountain scenery on the mind. Whatever exalts the imaginat…"
"That the forms of natural bodies may depend upon different arrangements of the same particles of matter has been a fa…"
"Every new discovery may be considered as a new species of manufacture, awakening moral industry and sagacity, and emp…"
"Fortunately science, like that nature to which it belongs, is neither limited by time nor by space. It belongs to the…"
"It is surely a pure delight to know, how and by what processes this earth is clothed with verdure and life, how the c…"
"I envy no quality of the mind or intellect in others; not genius, power, wit, nor fancy; but, if I could choose what …"
"Nothing is so fatal to the progress of the human mind as to suppose that our views of science are ultimate; that ther…"
"Davy held that if the battery is strong enough any compound may be decomposed, and that chemical affinity is merely a…"
"A sacred spark created by his breath, The immortal mind of man his image bears; A spirit living 'midst the forms of d…"