John Herschel Quote

The probable error of the whole (0.0032) shews that the mean specific gravity of this our planet is, in all human probability, quite as well determined as that of an ordinary hand-specimen in a mineralogical cabinet - a marvellous result, which should teach us to despair of nothing which lies within the compass of number, weight, and measure.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume VI, Number, 10, February 9, 1838 (p. 109)