' Vet, if he would be guided by the true spirit of scientific inquiry, he must maintain an 

 unsettled opinion as long as the evidence is incomplete or contradictory ; he must adopt 

 conclusions only where the evidence is complete and convincing ; he must ever hold his 

 mind open to new evidence, even if it bring about the abandonment of accepted beliefs. 

 He may, if desirable, quote the conclusions of others, and, if well read, he may thus 

 become widely informed ; but he will fail to gain the best benefit that comes from 

 careful study, if he does not reach opinions and conclusions for himself, forming them 

 only as fast as the evidence that may support them is clearly understood.' 



Elementary Meteorology, by Prof. W. M. Davis. 



