"I am turned into a sort of machine for observing facts and grinding out generalizations."

"I am a strong believer in the power of observation and the importance of collecting facts."

"False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in prov…"

"I have no great quickness of apprehension or wit which is so remarkable in some clever men, but I have a fair share of invention and of common sense."

"I have steadily endeavoured to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved, as soon as facts are shown to be opposed to it."