r. 



HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ 



having no inner propelling power towards science, 

 cease to work, a higher aspect of one's relation to 

 humanity came into the foreground. The thoughts 

 that have found their way into literature, or into the 

 minds of men by the teaching of pupils, continue to 

 have an independent life ; these thoughts have further 

 developments, and inspire teaching on newer lines. 

 One's own thoughts are of course more in one's 

 spiritual circle of vision than strange ones, and one 

 feels satisfaction when he sees his own bearing fruit. 

 Then a paternal feeling springs up in the mind of the 

 thinker, and he cares and fights for the advancement 

 of his offspring. Still, the whole world of civilised 

 humanity is before him, the duration of whose life 

 seems to be eternal in comparison with the short life 

 of an individual. The investigator then sees himself, 

 with his small contributions to the building up of 

 science, in the service of an eternal sacred cause, to 

 which he is bound by the closest bonds of affection. 

 By this thought his own work is hallowed. To feel 

 the full force of this, one must have had the experience.' 

 Helmholtz, in a speech delivered at the banquet, tells 

 us something of his mode of working. When a problem 

 came before his mind he turned it round on all sides. 

 He reflected upon it for several days, carefully thinking 

 out the details of any experimental procedures that 

 might be necessary. In the solution of more difficult 

 questions, the light seldom came when he was at his 

 desk, and never when the brain was fatigued. It was 

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