John Ray

Biology English 1627 – 1705 391 quotes

A naturalist who made significant contributions to taxonomy, defining the concept of a species and publishing influential works on plants and animals.

Most quoted

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

— from Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation

"The wisdom of God is conspicuously seen in the admirable contrivance of the bodies of animals, and the exquisite fitness of their several parts to their respective functions."

— from The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, 1691

"Let us then with all diligence apply ourselves to the study of nature, that we may thereby be led to admire and adore its great Creator."

— from Preface to Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum

All quotes by John Ray (391)

He that will not apply himself to the study of nature, will never know the works of God.

The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation

The world is a great book, of which they that never stir from home read only one page.

Proverbs

A man that is a master of patience is master of everything else.

Proverbs

Better to wear out than to rust out.

Proverbs

He that has a good harvest, may be content with a little rain.

Proverbs

The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merryman.

Proverbs

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Proverbs

Every dog has his day.

Proverbs

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Proverbs

Look before you leap.

Proverbs

All that glitters is not gold.

Proverbs

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Proverbs

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Proverbs

The early bird catches the worm.

Proverbs

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Proverbs

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Proverbs

Many hands make light work.

Proverbs

Practice makes perfect.

Proverbs

Two heads are better than one.

Proverbs

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Proverbs

Contemporaries of John Ray

Other Biologys born within 50 years of John Ray (1627–1705).