112 LOUIS PASTEUR 



orthodox in its supposed theological bearings. For 

 this reason it was received with favor by some and 

 suspicion by others. Pasteur felt called upon to 

 declare, "This is not a matter of religion, phi- 

 losophy, atheism, materialism, or spiritualism. I 

 might even add that as a scientist these things do 

 not concern me. It is a question of fact; I took 

 it up without preconceived ideas, and if experiment 

 convinced me that way I was as ready to maintain 

 the existence of spontaneous generation as I am 

 now persuaded that those who affirm it are blind- 

 folded." 



The purely scientific attitude of mind is hard for 

 many persons to appreciate. The true scientist 

 endeavors to exclude all kinds of bias which may 

 obscure his vision of the truth, to follow humbly, 

 without regard to preference or desire, wherever 

 evidence may lead, regardless of consequences to 

 his preconceived opinions. To close his eyes to 

 evidence against his cherished convictions is, from 

 the point of view of the seeker after truth, not only 

 unwise, but immoral. But how often do we sin 

 against the cause of truth, preferring to adhere to 

 our opinions, rather than to bring them to the test, 

 and to give them up if the balance of evidence 

 turns against theml 



