Natural philosophy Quote by Lord Kelvin
““ Oersted would never have made his great discovery of the action of galvanic currents on magnets had he stopped in his researches to consider in what manner they could possibly be turned to practical account; and so we would not now be able to boast of the wonders done by the electric telegraphs. Indeed, no great law in Natural Philosophy has ever been discovered for its practical implications, but the instances are innumerable of investigations apparently quite useless in this narrow sense of the word which have led to the most valuable results.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Royal Society, 1880
Scientific curiosity must pursue pure inquiry, not just immediate utility, because seemingly useless research often yields transformative technologies.
In simple terms: Pure research can lead to breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity without focusing on immediate use.
Themes
science
innovation
curiosity
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- fundamental physics
- engineering design
- policy funding
- education curricula
Key Concepts
natural philosophy
serendipity
technology development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance funding for pure vs. applied research?
- What examples show delayed practical benefits?
A Different Perspective
Practical impact may take decades, risking loss of support.
![“To what part of electrical science are we not indebted to Faraday? He has increased our knowledge of the hidden and unknown to such an extent, that all subsequent writers are compelled so frequently to mention his name and quote his papers, that the very repetition becomes monotonous. [How]…” quote by Alfred Smee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f02/alfred-smee-82261_acknowledge_to-what-part-of-electrical-science-are-w_1095021.jpg)
![“To him [Faraday], as to all true philosophers, the main value of a fact was its position and suggestiveness in the general sequence of scientific truth.” quote by John Tyndall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ae/john-tyndall-33806_fact_to-him-faraday-as-to-all-true-philosophe_479803.jpg)
