17th-century Natural Philosopher Quotes

Christiaan Huygens

Robert Hooke

Robert Boyle

John Theophilus Desaguliers

William Molyneux

John Bulwer

The least of Reptiles I have hitherto met with, is a Mite.

Arithmetic and geometry, those wings on which the astronomer soars as high as heaven.

But indeed all the whole story of Comets and Planets, and the Production of the World, is founded upon such poor and trifling grounds, that I have often wonder'd how an ingenious man could spend all that pains in making such fancies hang together.

Christiaan Huygens

Nature compell'd, his piercing Mind obeys, And gladly shows him all her secret Ways; 'Gainst Mathematicks she has no Defence, And yields t' experimental Consequence.

John Theophilus Desaguliers

Were there no other use of Optics, than the invention of "Spectacles" for the help of defective Eyes, I should think the advantage which mankind receives, thereby, inferior to no other benefit, whatever, not absolutely requisite to support Life.

William Molyneux

True and native beauty consists in the just composure and symmetry of the parts of the body.