His Aspirations 285 



science as discipline to which Huxley so strenuously 

 called attention. 



There can be no better way of ending this sketch of 

 Huxley's life and work than by quoting his own ac- 

 count of the objects to which he had devoted himself 

 consciously. These were : 



" To promote the increase of natural knowledge and to for- 

 ward the application of scientific methods of investigation to 

 all the problems of life to the best of my ability, in the convic- 

 tion which has grown with my growth and strengthened with my 

 strength, that there is no alleviation for the sufferings of man- 

 kind except veracity of thought 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 reason- 

 able or unreasonable ambition for scientific fame which I may 

 have permitted myself to entertain to other ends ; to the popular- 

 isation of science ; to the development and organisation of sci- 

 entific education ; to the endless series of battles and skirmishes 

 over evolution ; and to untiring opposition to that ecclesiastical 

 spirit, that clericalism, which in England, as everywhere else, 

 and to whatever 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 be remem- 

 bered, or even not remembered, as such. Circumstances, among 

 which I am proud to reckon the devoted kindness of many 

 friends, have led to my occupation of various prominent posi- 

 tions, among which the presidency of the Royal Society is the 

 highest. It would be mock modesty on my part, with these 

 and other scientific honours which have been bestowed upon 

 me, to pretend that I have not succeeded in the career which I 

 have followed, rather because I was driven into it than of my 

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

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

 somewhat helped that movement of opinion which has been 

 called the New Reformation." 



