3 Quotes by William John Macquorn Rankine

The law of the conservation of energy is already known, viz. that the sum of the actual and potential energies in the universe is unchangeable.

A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to make any progress in framing an abstractive theory.

Discrepancy between theory and practice, which in sound physical and mechanical science is a delusion, has a real existence in the minds of men; and that fallacy, through rejected by their judgments, continues to exert and influence over their acts.