You must not say that this cannot be, or that that is…
“You must not say that this cannot be, or that that is contrary to nature. You do not know what Nature is, or what she can do; and nobody knows; not even Sir Roderick Murchison, or Professor Huxley, or Mr. Darwin, or Professor Faraday, or Mr. Grove, or any other of the great men whom good boys are taught to respect. They are very wise men; and you must listen respectfully to all they say: but even if they should say, which I am sure they never would, 'That cannot exist. That is contrary to nature,' you must wait a little, and see; for perhaps even they may be wrong.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Question authority but remain open to new evidence; even experts can be wrong.
In simple terms: Listen to experts but stay curious.
Key Takeaway
Keep questioning assumptions.
Themes
skepticism
humility
learning
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- debate
- policy making
Key Concepts
scientific method
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance respect for expertise with independent thinking?
- When should you challenge a consensus?
A Different Perspective
Even respected scholars can err; blind trust hinders progress.