Books Quote by Robert Hooke
“The Designe of the Royall Society being the Improvement of Naturall knowledge all ways and meanes that tend thereunto ought to be made use of in the prosecution thereof. Naturall knowledge then being the thing sought for, we are to consider by what meanes it may soonest easiest and most certainly attaind. These meanes we shall the sooner find if we consider where tis to be had to wit in three places. first in bookes, 2dly in men. 3ly in the things themselves. and these three point us out the search of books. the converse & correspondence with men the Experimenting and Examining the things themselves under each of these there is a multitude of businesse to be done but the first hath the Least [and is] the most easily attained, the 2d hath a great Deal and requires much endeavour and Industry; and the 3d is infinite and the difficultest of all.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Micrographia, 1665
The quote outlines a three‑step method for acquiring natural knowledge: books, people, and direct observation, each with differing difficulty and effort.
In simple terms: Learn from books first, then people, then experiments.
Key Takeaway
Start with reading, then discuss, then test.
Themes
education
methodology
science
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
instructional
explanatory
When to use this quote
- academic study
- collaborative research
- laboratory experiments
Key Concepts
epistemology
empiricism
knowledge acquisition
Questions to Reflect On
- What sources are most reliable for your field?
- How can you balance theory and practice?
A Different Perspective
Direct observation is time‑consuming and may be limited by resources.
