Robert Boyle

Father of modern chemistry

Early Modern influential 100 sayings

Sayings by Robert Boyle

I have endeavored to write not for the learned only, but for all ingenious persons.

mid-17th century — Reflecting his desire to make scientific knowledge accessible.
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The more accurately we know the properties of things, the better we can employ them.

mid-17th century — Highlighting the practical applications of scientific knowledge.
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I confess I am not fond of controversies, but I am resolved to defend the truth.

mid-17th century — Expressing a preference for scientific inquiry over debate, but a commitment to truth.
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The elements are not four, but many.

1661 — Challenging the ancient Greek concept of four elements, a key point in 'The Sceptical Chymist'.
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I have sought to reduce chemistry to the principles of mechanics.

1660s — His aim to explain chemical phenomena through corpuscular theory and mechanical principles.
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The greatest discoveries are often made by slight and accidental observations.

mid-17th century — Acknowledging the role of chance in scientific discovery.
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I am but a weak instrument in the hands of God.

mid-17th century — A statement of religious humility.
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The true philosopher is a lover of truth, not a lover of systems.

mid-17th century — Reinforcing his anti-dogmatic stance.
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I have chosen to write in English, that my countrymen might profit from my labors.

mid-17th century — His decision to write in the vernacular, making science accessible beyond Latin scholars.
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The more we know of the works of God, the more we shall admire their Author.

mid-17th century — Connecting scientific discovery with religious reverence.
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I have a peculiar aversion to controversies, which often generate more heat than light.

mid-17th century — Expressing his preference for empirical evidence over contentious debate.
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The true method of discovering the nature of things is by experiment.

mid-17th century — A central tenet of his scientific philosophy.
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I am persuaded that the knowledge of natural things is a great help to the knowledge of God.

mid-17th century — Further intertwining his scientific and religious views.
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The air pump is a philosophical instrument, not a toy.

1660s — Emphasizing the serious scientific purpose of his experimental apparatus.
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I have made it my business to examine, not to believe.

mid-17th century — A powerful statement of empirical skepticism.
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The universe is a vast and complex mechanism, created by a supremely intelligent designer.

mid-17th century — His physico-theological perspective.
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I have always preferred the plainness of truth to the ornaments of eloquence.

mid-17th century — Emphasizing clarity and accuracy in scientific communication.
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The true end of natural philosophy is the glory of God and the benefit of mankind.

mid-17th century — Articulating the dual purpose of scientific inquiry.
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I have often found that a single experiment can overturn a thousand speculations.

mid-17th century — Highlighting the power of empirical evidence to challenge established theories.
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The more we discover, the more we realize how much remains unknown.

mid-17th century — A statement of intellectual humility and the ongoing nature of scientific exploration.
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