"It would indeed be a miracle if all Dr. Gilbert's general inferences were just, or all his experiments accurate. It was untrodden ground. But on the whole, this performance contains more real information than any writing of the age in which he lived, and is scarcely exceeded by any that has appeared since. We may hold it with justice as the first-fruits of the Baconian or experimental philosophy."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
p.xvi-xvii (quoting John Robison)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Gilbert_of_Colchester%2C_Physician_of_London
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
William Gilbert of Colchester, Physician of London
50 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by William Gilbert of Colchester, Physician of London →
Related Quotes
"In the words of the celebrated English mathematician, Edward Wright, I doubt not that our united efforts "will find t…"
"Not only does Gilbert frequently make use of what he terms "words new and unheard-of," besides attaching to many othe…"
"It is known that in the philosophy of the schoolmen (as in that of Aristotle) form—forma—means that which added to ma…"
"England's great poet, John Dryden, tells us: "It is almost impossible to translate verbally and well at the same time…"
"To give here such an analysis as Gilbert's admirable work merits would be impracticable but the short review of it ma…"
"It is curious to mark the almost perfect sameness of Dr Gilbert's sentiments and language with those of Lord Bacon. T…"
"He has pursued this method on the subject of magnetism, with wonderful ardour, and with equal genius and success; for…"
"It is not saying too much of this work of Dr. Gilbert's to affirm, that it contains almost everything that we know ab…"
"We ascribe it to the general indolence of mankind, who do not take the trouble of consulting originals, where things …"
"This work of Dr Gilbert's relates chiefly to the loadstone, and what we call magnets; that is, pieces of steel which …"