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 migration of birds is a wonder of instinct.
God has written two books: the book of Scripture and the book of Nature.
Every herb in the garden is a proof of divine benevolence.
To dissect a flower is to read a chapter in the wisdom of God.
Species are fixed and immutable, as ordained by the Creator.
The structure of the bee's hive shows perfect order.
Life's brevity urges us to study nature diligently.
Insects, though small, display infinite variety.
The seasons teach us the cycle of renewal.
No two leaves are exactly alike, yet all serve the same purpose.
Observation is the key to unlocking nature's secrets.
The ocean's depths hold mysteries beyond our ken.
Friendship with fellow naturalists enriches the soul.
A single specimen can reveal universal truths.
The folly of man contrasts with nature's harmony.
Birdsong at dawn is nature's morning prayer.
To name a plant is to honor its Creator.
Aging brings wisdom, as the oak grows strong.
The spider's web is a marvel of engineering.
In solitude, nature speaks most clearly.
Contemporaries of John Ray
Other Biologys born within 50 years of John Ray (1627–1705).