20 quotes
He that said it was not good for man to be alone, placed the celibate amongst the inferior states of perfection.
I shall take leave to think the worse, rather of the practice of the men than of the book of God.
Some Considerations Touching the Style of the Holy Scriptures (1661)
Arithmetic and geometry, those wings on which the astronomer soars as high as heaven.
And first the Doctrine that all their Theory is grounded on, seems to me Inevident and undemonstrated, not to say precarious.
Of the Imperfection of The Chymist's Doctrine of Qualities (1675)
It is not strange to me, that persons of the fairer sex should like, in all things about them, that handsomeness for which they find themselves most liked.
Occasional Reflections upon Several Subjects (1665)
For it has been truly observed by a great philosopher, that truth does more easily emerge out of error than confusion.
A Proëmial Essay (1661)
Those distinct substances, which concretes generally either afford, or are made up of, may, without very much inconvenience, be called the elements or principles of them.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
It may likewise be granted, that those distinct Substances, which Concretes generally either afford or are made up of, may without very much Inconvenience be call'd the Elements or Principles of them.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
Those hypotheses do not a little hinder the progress of Humane knowledge, that introduce Morals and Politicks into the Explications of Corporeal Nature, where all things are indeed transacted according to Laws Mechanical.
Reflections upon the Hypothesis of Alcali and Acidum (1675)
Doubtless, it shews the wisdom of God, to have so fram'd things at first, that there can seldom or never need any extraordinary interposition of his power; or the employing from, time to time, an intelligent overseer, to regulate, assist, and control the motions of matter.
A Free Inquiry into the Vulgar Notion of Nature (1682)
Chymists write thus darkly, not because they think their Notions too precious to be explain'd, but because they fear that if they were explain'd, men would discern, that they are farr from being precious.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
I cannot conceive, how a body, destitute of understanding and sense, truly so called, can moderate and determine its own motions; especially so as to make them conformable to laws that it has no knowledge of.
A Free Inquiry into the Vulgar Notion of Nature (1682)
And of universal nature, the notion I would offer, should be something like this. Nature is the aggregate of the bodies, that make up the world, in its present state, considered as a principle, by virtue whereof, they act and suffer, according to the laws of motion, prescribed by the author of things.
A Free Inquiry into the Vulgar Notion of Nature (1682)
Epicurus... supposes not only all mixt bodies, but all others to be produced by the various and casual occursions of atoms, moving themselves to and fro by an internal principle in the immense or rather infinite vacuum.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
It seems not absurd to conceive that at the first Production of mixt Bodies, the Universal Matter whereof they among other Parts of the Universe consisted, was actually divided into little Particles of several sizes and shapes variously mov'd.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
It seems not absurd to conceive, that at first production of mixt bodies, the universal matter, whereof they among other parts of the universe consisted, was actually divided, into little particles, of several sizes and shapes, variously moved.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
I fear that the chief Reason why Chymists have written so obscurely of their three Principles, may be, That not having Clear and Distinct Notions of them themselves, they cannot write otherwise then Confusedly of what they but Confusedly Apprehend.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
Neither is it impossible that of these minute Particles divers of the smallest and neighbouring ones were here and there associated into minute Masses or Clusters, and did by their Coalitions constitute great store of such little primary Concretions or Masses as were not easily dissipable into such Particles as compos'd them.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
It is much more high and philosophical to discover things a priori than a posteriori. And therefore the Peripatetics have not been very solicitous to gather experiments to prove their doctrines, contenting themselves with a few only, to satisfy those that are not capable of a nobler conviction. And indeed they employ experiments rather to illustrate than to demonstrate their doctrines.
I shall not peremptorily deny, that from most of such mixt Bodies as partake either of Animal or Vegetable Nature, there may by the Help of the Fire, be actually obtain'd a determinate number (whether Three, Four or Five, or fewer or more) of Substances, worthy of differing Denominations.
The Sceptical Chymist (1661)