26 



DISCOVERY 



CH. 



this respect the attitude of the man of science differs 

 from that of ordinary life ; for most people instinctively 

 cherish convictions based upon experience of a few 

 cases or conditions and are adroit in avoiding evidence 

 contrary to what they wish to believe. They cannot 

 understand the habit of mind which looks upon all truth 

 as relative and temporary, and rejoices at the disclosure 

 of a fact that refuses to fall within the limits of an 

 accepted principle. It may be impossible for human 

 intelligence to comprehend absolute truth, but it is 

 possible to observe Nature with an unbiassed mind and 

 to bear truthful testimony of things seen. 



To thine ownself be true ; 

 And it must follow, as the night the day, 

 Thou canst not then be false to any man. Sltalcespeare. 



" Nature," once remarked Goethe to a friend ; 

 " Nature knows no trifling ; she is always sincere, 

 always serious, always stern ; she is always in the right, 

 and the errors and mistakes are invariably ours." No 

 one realises this more fully than the scientific experi- 

 menter or observer. He looks at Nature's countenance, 

 and as a sworn witness before the tribunal of reality, 

 testifies to what is revealed to him. Upon him is the 

 responsibility of recording exactly what he sees, and by 

 his gaze alone can that knowledge be obtained which 

 will subdue Nature to the rule of the human intellect. 

 Much that he sees may not be understood, but unless 

 he has the love of truth his vision will be distorted. 

 Hear what a great physicist says of the essential attri- 

 butes of a scientific observer and the conquests to which 

 they lead : 



I value in a scientific mind, most of all, that love of truth, 

 that care in its pursuit, and that humility of mind which makes 

 the possibility of error always present more than any other 



