Teachings of Thomas Huxley 3 



alert to find a weak spot or opening in his 

 opponent's defence, fighting ever like a good 

 swordsman partly for victory, partly for the 

 upholding of what he deemed a principle or 

 ideal worthy of the strife. It would be in- 

 vidious to draw too close a differential between 

 these, although there can be scarcely a doubt 

 which was more beneficial to his fellow-men, 

 because both had a common basis which lay 

 instinctive, hidden, even perhaps to himself, 

 yet forming woof and fiber of his very being, 

 viz., the love of Truth. This was the chief 

 purpose in every thought and deed — to know 

 the right, to follow it oneself, and to teach it 

 to others. For him as for the lamented Keats, 



"Beauty is truth, truth beauty — that is all 

 Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." * 



It is not my purpose to write either a eulo- 

 gium or a criticism of Huxley — the former 

 would be useless, the latter presumptuous. Nor 

 do I intend to give a detailed account of daily 

 sayings and doings — a function which belongs 

 to the biographer or literary executor rather 

 than to the appreciator who merely tries to 

 give his impressions, duly weighed and con- 

 sidered after a careful reading of the personal 

 record of his mentor. Perhaps, however, a 



*" "" I ■ ■ - ■ ■ ■ , - .. — .■■■■ ■ I, |.| | . mm t ^. 



* Ode on a Grecian urn. 



