SCIENCE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 101 



FIG. 45. BERNARD PALISSY. 



those who have practised nothing, and to take care of believing the 



opinions of those who say that theory has produced practice 



If men could only carry out their ideas, I would*be of their party and 

 opinion ; but so much is wanting to that ! If the things conceived in 

 the mind could be carried out, the poor alchemists would accomplish 

 great things, and would not be amusing themselves in searching as 

 some have done for fifty years. If the theories formed in the minds 

 of the leaders in war could be carried out, they never would lose a 

 battle. I venture to say, for the confusion of those who maintain such 

 an opinion, that if they had all the theories in the world, they could 

 not make a shoe." 



He tells how he began his experiments as a potter. " Know that it 

 is five and twenty years ago since I was shown a turned and glazed 

 earthenware cup of such rare beauty that I immediately began to de- 

 bate in my own mind, recollecting the various remarks that people had 

 made when laughing at me as I was painting figures. Without re- 

 garding the fact that I had no knowledge of clays, I began to seek for 



