238 Quotes by Thomas Henry Huxley

The Bible has been the Magna Carta of the poor and of the oppressed.

Agnosticism is not properly described as a “negative” creed, nor indeed as a creed of any kind, except in so far as it expresses absolute faith in the validity of a principle which is as much ethical as intellectual.

To say that an idea is necessary is simply to affirm that we cannot conceive the contrary; and the fact that we cannot conceive the contrary of any belief may be a presumption, but is certainly no proof, of its truth.

Science has fulfilled her function when she has ascertained and enunciated truth.

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.

Education is the instruction of the intellect in the laws of Nature.

The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin.

Nothing great in science has ever been done by men, whatever their powers, in whom the divine afflatus of the truth-seeker was wanting.

We are prone to see what lies behind our eyes, rather than what apprears before them.