Autobiography 15 



and of action, and the resolute facing of the world as it is 

 when the garment of make-believe by which pious hands 

 have hidden its uglier features is stripped off. 



It is with this intent that I have subordinated any 

 reasonable, or unreasonable, ambition for scientific fame 5 

 which I may have permitted myself to entertain to other 

 ends; to the popularization of science; to the development 

 and organization of scientific education; to the endless 

 series of battles and skirmishes over evolution; and to 

 untiring opposition to that ecclesiastical spirit, that clerical- 10 

 ism, which in England, as everywhere else, and to what- 

 ever denomination it may belong, is the deadly enemy of 

 science. 



In striving for the attainment of these objects, I have 

 been but one among many, and I shall be well content to 15 

 be remembered, or even not remembered, as such. Cir- 

 cumstances, among which I am proud to reckon the 

 devoted kindness of many friends, have led to my occupa- 

 tion of various prominent positions, among which the presi- 

 dency of the Royal Society is the highest. It would be 20 

 mock modesty on my part, with these and other scientific 

 honors which have been bestowed upon me, to pretend 

 that I have not succeeded in the career which I have fol- 

 lowed, rather because I was driven into it than of my 

 own free will; but I am afraid I should not count even 25 

 these things as marks of success if I could not hope that I 

 had somewhat helped that movement of opinion which 

 has been called the New Reformation. 



