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 works of God are so many motives to stir us up to gratitude and thanksgiving.
The more we contemplate the works of God, the more we shall be convinced of his infinite goodness.
The world is a great school, in which we may learn the wisdom of God.
The works of nature are all perfect in their kind, and do not admit of any defect or imperfection.
The study of nature is a most excellent preparation for the study of divinity.
I have been much taken up with the study of plants, and have made some progress in their classification.
The works of God are so various and wonderful, that they cannot be sufficiently admired.
I am resolved to spend the remainder of my days in the study of nature.
The more I search into the works of nature, the more I admire the wisdom and power of the Creator.
I find great pleasure in observing the various kinds of plants and animals.
My health is not so good as I could wish, but I hope to continue my studies as long as I live.
I have endeavoured to reduce the vast number of plants into some order and method.
I am persuaded that there is no study more becoming a rational creature than that of natural history.
I have met with many difficulties in my work, but I have not been discouraged.
The wisdom of God is manifest in all his works, and especially in the structure of living creatures.
I have made it my business to observe and describe the various productions of nature.
I am now grown old and infirm, but my love for natural history continues.
The more I contemplate the works of God, the more I am convinced of his infinite power and goodness.
I have always aimed at truth and accuracy in my descriptions.
I hope that my labours may be of some use to posterity.
Contemporaries of John Ray
Other Biologys born within 50 years of John Ray (1627–1705).