NOVUM ORGANUM 69 



solution of continuity. But in water-bubbles the same cir 

 cumstance appears matter of delicate and ingenious research, 

 for they form themselves into thin pellicles, curiously shaped 

 into hemispheres, so as for an instant to avoid the solution 

 of continuity. 



In general those very things which are considered as 

 secret are manifest and common in other objects, but will 

 never be clearly seen if the experiments and contemplation 

 of man be directed to themselves only. Yet it commonly 

 happens, that if, in the mechanical arts, any one bring old 

 discoveries to a finer polish, or more elegant height of orna 

 ment, or unite and compound them, or apply them more 

 readily to practice, or exhibit them on a less heavy and 

 voluminous scale, and the like, they will pass off as new. 



We cannot, therefore, wonder that no magnificent dis 

 coveries, worthy of mankind, have been brought to light, 

 while men are satisfied and delighted with such scanty and 

 puerile tasks, nay, even think that they have pursued or 

 attained some great object in their accomplishment. 



LXXXIX. Nor should we neglect to observe that nat 

 ural philosophy has, in every age, met with a troublesome 

 and difficult opponent: I mean superstition, and a blind and 

 immoderate zeal for religion. For we see that, among the 

 Greeks, those who first disclosed the natural causes of 

 thunder and storms to the yet untrained ears of man were 

 condemned as guilty of impiety- toward the gods. 51 Nor 

 did some of the old fathers of Christianity treat those much 

 better who showed by the most positive proofs (such as no 



61 See the &quot;Clouds&quot; of Aristophanes, where Socrates is represented as chas 

 ing Jupiter out of the sky, by resolving thunderstorms into aerial concussions 

 and whirlwinds. Ed, 



