The real essence, the internal qualities, and constitution of even the meanest object, is hid from our view; something there is in... every drop of water, every grain of sand, which it is beyond the power of human understanding to fathom or comprehend. But it is evident ... that we are influenced by false principles to that degree as to mistrust our senses, and think we know nothing of those things which we perfectly comprehend.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
A machine is characterized by sustained, autonomous action. It is set up by human hands and then is more or less set loose from hu...man control. It is designed to come between man and nature, to affect the natural world without requiring or indeed allowing humans to come into contact with it. Such is the clock, which abstracts the measurement of time from the sun and the stars: such is the steam engine, which turns coal into power to move ships or pump water without the intervention of human muscles. A tool, unlike a machine, is not self-sufficient or autonomous in action. It requires the skill of a craftsman and, when handled with skill, permits him to reshape the world in his way.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
It is so manifestly incompatible with those precautions for our peace and safety, which all the great powers habitually observe an...d enforce in matters affecting them, that a shorter water way between our eastern and western seaboards should be dominated by any European government, that we may confidently expect that such a purpose will not be entertained by any friendly power.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
All who wish to hand down to their children that happy republican system bequeathed to them by their revolutionary fathers, must n...ow take their stand against this consolidating, corrupting money power, and put it down, or their children will become hewers of wood and drawers of water to this aristocratic ragocracy.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Darwin was, like Copernicus, a one-idea man. Each had his "nuclear inspiration" early in life, and spent the rest of his life work...ing it out--the ratio of inspiration to perspiration being heavily in favor of the second. Both lacked the many-sidedness, that universality of interest and amazing multitude of achievement in unrelated fields of research which characterised Kepler, Newton, Descartes, Franklin, Faraday, Maxwell, and hundreds of lesser but equally versatile geniuses. It is perhaps no coincidence that both Darwin and Copernicus, after the decisive turning point when their course was set, led a life of duty, devotion to task, rigorous self-discipline, and spiritual desiccation. It looks as if the artesian wells of their inspiration had been replaced by a mechanical water supply kept under pressure by sheer power of will.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
And me happiest when I compose poems: Love, power, the huzza of battle... are something, are much: yet a poem includes them like a pool water and reflection.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
... the reason I keep doing it is for the tremendous rush I get at the end of any great swim.... there is ... nothing greater than... touching the shore after crossing some great body of water knowing that I've done it with my own two arms and legs.... I'm overwhelmed by the strength of my body and the power of my mind. For one moment, just one second, I feel immortal.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Power! Did you ever hear of men being asked whether other souls should have power or not? It is born in them. You may dam up the f...ountain of water, and make it a stagnant marsh, or you may let it run free and do its work; but you cannot say whether it shall be there; it is there. And it will act, if not openly for good, then covertly for evil; but it will act.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »