From the earliest times man has been engaged in a search…
“From the earliest times man has been engaged in a search for general rules whereby to turn the order of natural phenomena to his own advantage, and in the long search he has scraped together a great hoard of such maxims, some of them golden and some of them mere dross. The true or golden rules constitute the body of applied science which we call the arts; the false are magic.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Humanity seeks universal principles to control nature; true rules become science, false ones remain magic.
In simple terms: People look for rules; real ones become science, fake ones stay magic.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish science from superstition.
Themes
science
myth
knowledge
human curiosity
Mood
analytical
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- technology development
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
anthropology
history of science
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria separate scientific law from myth?
- How do cultural myths affect modern science?
A Different Perspective
Science evolves, but false beliefs persist.