--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to turn natural history into a…" description: "\"In order to turn natural history into a true science, one would have to devote oneself to investigations capable of telling us not the particular shape..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg" --- # In order to turn natural history into a true science, one… ![“In order to turn natural history into a true science, one would have to devote oneself to investigations capable of telling us not the particular shape of such and such an animal, but the general procedures of nature in the animal's production and preservation.” quote by Pierre Louis Maupertuis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg) > “In order to turn natural history into a true science, one would have to devote oneself to investigations capable of telling us not the particular shape of such and such an animal, but the general procedures of nature in the animal's production and preservation.” [Pierre Louis Maupertuis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-louis-maupertuis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science must focus on general natural processes, not just individual forms. **In simple terms:** Study universal laws of nature, not just specific shapes. Key Takeaway Prioritize understanding underlying mechanisms. Themes science methodology natural history research philosophy Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type Animal:0 Animals:0 Capable:0 History:0 Investigation:0 Natural:0 Natural history:0 Nature:0 Oneself:0 Order:0 Particular:0 Preservation:0 Procedures:0 Productions:0 Research:0 Science:0 Shapes:0 Turns:0 True Science:0 Turn Natural:0 Procedures Nature:0 Oneself Investigations:0 When to use this quote - education - biology - ecology - philosophy Key Concepts generalization systems thinking empiricism Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply general principles to a specific case? - What limits arise from over‑generalization? A Different Perspective Specific details can distract from broader insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Investigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigation/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-history/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Investigations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-investigations-5383410/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Procedures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procedures/) [Procedures Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procedures-nature-5383409/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [True Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-science-539178/) [Turn Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-natural-1204656/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [In the studio you have pretty much carte blanche with whatever you're doing. You can turn natural instruments into electronic instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/in-the-studio-you-have-pretty-much-carte-blanche-with-whatever-you-re/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [What is false in the science of facts may be true in the science of values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/what-is-false-in-the-science-of-facts-may-be-true-in-the-science-of/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [True science and true religion are twin sisters, and the separation of either from the other is sure to prove the death of both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/true-science-and-true-religion-are-twin-sisters-and-the-separation-of/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [True science investigates and brings to human perception such truths and such knowledge as the people of a given time and society consider most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/true-science-investigates-and-brings-to-human-perception-such-truths/) [Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/) > [The true science and study of mankind is man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-charron/the-true-science-and-study-of-mankind-is-man/) [Pierre Charron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-charron/) > [True science discovers God waiting behind every door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/true-science-discovers-god-waiting-behind-every-door/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [Science ... has no consideration for ultimate purposes, any more than Nature has, but just as the latter occasionally achieves things of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/science-has-no-consideration-for-ultimate-purposes-any-more-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“For me there has been no serious difficulty in reconciling the principles of true science with the principles of true religion, for both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/for-me-there-has-been-no-serious-difficulty-in-reconciling-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [The great unity which true science seeks is found only by beginning with our knowledge of God, and coming down from Him along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-unity-which-true-science-seeks-is-found-only-by-beginning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Mystery\] is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/mystery-is-the-fundamental-emotion-that-stands-at-the-cradle-of-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [True science teaches, above all, to doubt and to be ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/true-science-teaches-above-all-to-doubt-and-to-be-ignorant/) [Miguel De Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/the-true-science-of-martial-arts-means-practicing-them-in-such-a-way/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [Indeed, every true science has for its object the determination of certain phenomena by means of others, in accordance with the relations which exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auguste-comte/indeed-every-true-science-has-for-its-object-the-determination-of/) [Auguste Comte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auguste-comte/) > ["True science has no belief," says Dr. Fenwick, in Bulwer-Lytton's 'Strange Story;' "true science knows but three states of mind: denial, conviction, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/true-science-has-no-belief-says-dr-fenwick-in-bulwer-lytton-s-strange/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Religions die when they are proved to be true. Science is the record of dead religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/religions-die-when-they-are-proved-to-be-true-science-is-the-record/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Pierre Louis Maupertuis > [However dangerous might be the shock of a comet, it might be so slight, that it would only do damage at the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-louis-maupertuis/however-dangerous-might-be-the-shock-of-a-comet-it-might-be-so-slight/) [Pierre Louis Maupertuis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-louis-maupertuis/) [Explore all 2 Pierre Louis Maupertuis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-louis-maupertuis/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In order to turn natural history into a true science, one would have to devote oneself to investigations capable of telling us not the particular shape of such and such an animal, but the general procedures of nature in the animal's production and preservation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Louis Maupertuis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-louis-maupertuis/in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a-true-science-one-would-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-louis-maupertuis/in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a-true-science-one-would-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/pierre-louis-maupertuis-89472_animal_in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a_680198.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In order to turn natural history into a true science, one would have to devote oneself to investigations…” — Pierre Louis Maupertuis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pierre Louis Maupertuis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-louis-maupertuis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In order to turn natural history...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-louis-maupertuis/in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a-true-science-one-would-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-louis-maupertuis/in-order-to-turn-natural-history-into-a-true-science-one-would-have/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```