John Ray
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)
The world was not made in a day, nor in six days, but in a much longer space of time.
There is no such thing as a spontaneous generation of animals or plants.
The earth is not eternal, but had a beginning, and will have an end.
The true method of natural philosophy is to begin with observation, and then to proceed to reasoning.
All things were made for man, and man for God.
The variety of creatures is so great, that it is impossible for any man to know them all.
The most perfect way of knowing things is by their causes.
The world is full of wonders, and yet we are apt to overlook them.
There is no such thing as a perfect vacuum in nature.
The more we know of nature, the more we admire the wisdom of its Author.
The true end of natural philosophy is to glorify God.
The earth is not a globe, but an irregular figure.
The best way to learn is by doing.
The works of God are not to be measured by the standard of human reason.
There is no such thing as chance in the universe.
The more we examine the works of nature, the more we shall find cause to admire them.
The proper study of mankind is man, but the proper study of God is nature.
The greatest pleasure of life is to be employed in some useful work.
The world is not so old as some imagine, nor so young as others suppose.
The true knowledge of things consists in knowing their natures, properties, and uses.
Contemporaries of John Ray
Other Biologys born within 50 years of John Ray (1627–1705).