The Idolatry of Science 



are perpetually moralists, and we are geome- 

 tricians only by chance. 



" Our intercourse with intellectual nature is 

 necessary ; our speculations upon matter are 

 voluntary, and at leisure. Physical know- 

 ledge is of such rare emergence that one man 

 may know another half his life without 

 being able to estimate his skill in hydro- 

 statics or astronomy ; but his moral and 

 prudential character immediately appears. 



u These authors, therefore, are to be read at 

 schools that supply most axioms of prudence, 

 most principles of moral truth, and most 

 materials for conversation ; and these pur- 

 poses are best served by poets, orators and 

 historians. 



"The innovators whom I oppose," he con- 

 cludes, "are turning off attention from life to 

 nature. They seem to think that we are 

 placed here to watch the growth of plants, 

 or the motions of the stars. Socrates was 

 24 



