DICTA HUXLEYANIA 78 



fact I think the only poet since the time of Lucretius, 

 who has taken the trouble to understand the work 

 and tendency of the men of science." 



The Ni7ieteenth Century. — " I conceive that the 

 leading characteristic of the nineteenth century has i 

 been the rapid gro\^'th of the scientific spirit, the con- 

 sequent application of scientific methods of investi- 

 gation to all the problems ■with which the human 

 mind is occupied, and the correlative rejection of 

 traditional beliefs wliich have proved their incom- 

 pet'Once to bear such investigation." 



Overioork. — " I have come to the conviction, how- 

 ever, that steady work hurts iiobody, the real de- 

 stroyer of hard-working men being not their work, 

 but dinners, late houi-s, and the universal humbug 

 and excitement of society." 



Education of Women. — " I am far from wishing 

 to place any obstacle in the way of the intellectual 

 advancement and development of women. On the 

 contrary, I don't see how we are to make any per- 

 manent advancement while one-half of the race is 

 sunk, as nine-tentlis of women are, in mere ignorant 

 parsonese superstitions." 



I'ruth at All Costs. — " I have searched over the 

 grounds of my belief, and if wife and child and name 

 and fame were all to be lost to me one after the other 

 as the penalty, still I will not lie." 



The Source of Happiness. — " The one thing for 

 men, who stand pretty much alone, and have a good 

 deal of fighting to do in the external world, is to 

 have light and warmth and confidence within the 

 four walls of home." 



The Term " Agnostic.'' — " Tolerably early in life 

 I discovered that one of the unpardonable sins, in 



