SCIENCE/ 



I SAID, that Superstition was the child of Fear, and 

 Fear the child of Ignorance ; and you might expect me 

 to say antithetically, that Science was the child of 

 Courage, and Courage the child of Knowledge. 



But these genealogies like most metaphors do 

 not fit exactly, as you may see for yourselves. 



If fear be the child of ignorance, ignorance is also 

 the child of fear ; the two react on, and produce each 

 other. The more men dread Nature, the less they 

 wish to know about her. Why pry into her awful 

 secrets ? It is dangerous ; perhaps impious. She says 

 to them, as in the Egyptian temple of old "I am 

 Isis, and my veil no mortal yet hath lifted." And 

 why should they try or wish to lift it ? If she will 

 leave them in peace, they will leave her in peace. It 

 is enough that she does not destroy them. So as 

 ignorance bred fear, fear breeds fresh and willing 

 ignorance. 



And courage ? We may say, and truly, that courage 

 is the child of knowledge. But we may say as truly, 

 * A Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution. 



