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Hellenic science is a victory of rationalism, which appears greater, not smaller, when one is made to realize that it had been won in spite of the irrational beliefs of the Greek people; all in all, it was a triumph of reason in the face of unreason. Some knowledge of Greek superstitions is needed not only for a proper appreciation of that triumph but also for the justification of occasional failures, such as the many Platonic aberrations.

— George Sarton A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

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More quotes by George Sarton

There are two kinds of people in the world, whom we might dub the jobholders and the enthusiasts.

A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

History has often proved the shortsightedness of the practical men and vindicated the "lazy" dreamers; it has also proved that the dreamers are often mistaken.

A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

The history of science should be the leading thread in the history of civilization.

From the humanistic point of view every human achievement is unforgettable and immortal in its essence, even if it is replaced by a "better" one.

A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

I am obliged to deal with hundreds of men and to make them live without killing the reader.

A History of Science Vol.2 Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three Centuries B.C (1959)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: George Sarton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.