4 o PHYSICAL RESEARCH 



is no applied science distinct from pure science; 

 there are applications of pure science, that is all. 

 The existence of this general feeling is real 

 enough. It is shown everywhere, in public speeches, 

 newspaper articles, private conversations; and it 

 meets with little contradiction. Let us by all 

 means turn it to good advantage; and to do so 

 we must give it understanding. We wish to hasten 

 the process by which scientific discoveries are made 

 and applied; but we must understand which way 

 the wheels go round when the machine works and 

 try to urge them in that way. The natural 

 machinery is there, right enough. The danger is 

 lest we all sit round it and poke levers and hooks 

 into it in various places and all push and pull 

 without a general purpose. We need to appreciate 

 the natural method of working if we are to make 

 the machine work well. 



That is why it is necessary to emphasise the 

 fact that pure science must come first, in point 

 of time at least. We must always press forward 

 to acquire, and to continue acquiring knowledge. 

 It is no good calling it useful knowledge; because 

 when it is first got, no one knows whether it ever 

 will be useful. And after that we have to see that 

 we encourage all means by which it can be made 

 useful. These two sides of the question may be 

 considered quite separately. The acquisition of 

 knowledge the first aim is most simply pro- 

 moted by financial encouragement to institutions 



