186 THE LIFE OF SCIENCE 



to sow widely, generously, to cast much bread upon many waters, 

 and to gather in but little and late if at all. The personality of the 

 reaper is unknown, but the reaping is almost certain. That is 

 enough. 



The scientists and scholars who appreciate the history of 

 science to-day are very few in number, but that does not matter 

 very much. The essential is that there be a small body of men who 

 do appreciate it and who try to interpret the human past and 

 present in such terms; they are walking in the right direction and 

 more scientists and scholars will follow them by and by. Selfish- 

 ness and patience are incompatible because of the brevity of our 

 lives, but just as soon as we forget ourselves either in search of 

 truth or in the evangelical way or preferably in both ways, it is easy 

 enough to be patient. The speed of human progress is less im- 

 portant than its direction. Let us use our best scientific and his- 

 toric means to determine and to correct that direction; it cannot 

 be determined once and forever, but must be continually cor- 

 rected as our knowledge and wisdom improve. Then let us follow 

 it as faithfully and as humbly as possible, allowing for the de- 

 velopment of whatever gentleness and kindness there may be in 

 us. It is a long way to go, but we should enjoy every step of it. 



