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The history of science should not be an instrument to defend any kind of social or philosophic theory; it should be used only for its own purpose, to illustrate impartially the working of reason against unreason, the gradual unfolding of truth, in all its forms, whether pleasant or unpleasant, useful or useless, welcome or unwelcome.

— 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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All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.

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Science and religion are two human enterprises sharing many features.

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To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection.

Henri Poincaré Science and Hypothesis (1901)

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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.