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 is a theatre, and all the men and women merely players.
The study of nature is a remedy against atheism.
The world is not governed by blind chance, but by a wise and powerful Providence.
The true happiness of man consists in the knowledge and love of God.
The world is a school, in which we are taught by God himself.
The true riches are not in the abundance of possessions, but in the contentment of mind.
The world is a mirror, in which we may see the perfections of God.
The greatest blessing of life is health.
The world is a garden, in which God has planted all sorts of beautiful and useful things.
The true wisdom is to know what is good, and to do it.
The greatest art is to conceal art.
The world is a stage, and every man must play his part.
The true glory of man is his reason.
The world is a mystery, and we are but humble inquirers.
The seeds of plants are the embryos of the future vegetable world.
In things of nature, there is nothing superfluous, nothing vain, nothing wanting.
The variety of plants is almost infinite.
A plant is a living body, without sense or voluntary motion, nourished, growing, and dying.
To travel is to learn.
The contemplation of the works of creation elevates the mind to the admiration of the Creator.
Contemporaries of John Ray
Other Biologys born within 50 years of John Ray (1627–1705).