I hope that some day the practice of producing cowpox in human beings will spread over the world - when that day comes, there will be no more smallpox.
Edward JennerRead
I shall endeavour still further to prosecute this inquiry, an inquiry I trust not merely speculative, but of sufficient moment to inspire the pleasing hope of its becoming essentially beneficial to mankind.
Interpretation
Jenner emphasizes the importance of scientific inquiry for the betterment of humanity.
In this quote, Edward Jenner expresses his commitment to pursuing research that he believes has the potential to significantly benefit humanity. He hopes that this inquiry will not only be theoretical but will yield practical results that improve people's lives, demonstrating the vital role of scientific investigation in advancing human welfare.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a speech on the importance of scientific research in improving public health.
I hope that some day the practice of producing cowpox in human beings will spread over the world - when that day comes, there will be no more smallpox.
The growth of our understanding of the world through science weakens some of the motivation which makes people believers. But that's not the same thing as saying they're incompatible. It's just that I think some of the traditional reasons for belief, going back thousands of years, are rather undermined.
In just one year, the expenditure of of the U.S.'s military budget is equivalent to the entire 50-year running budget of NASA combined.
Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science Fiction is the improbable made possible.
The most complex object in the known universe: brain, only uses 20 watts of power. It would require a nuclear power plant to energize a computer the size of a city block to mimic your brain, and your brain does it with just 20 watts. So if someone calls you a dim bulb, that's a compliment.
A science which hesitates to forget its founders is lost.
It could be that at some earlier time, somewhere in the universe, a civilization evolved by probably some kind of Darwinian means to a very, very high level of technology- and designed a form of life that they seeded onto perhaps this planet. And I suppose it's possible that you might find evidence for that if you look at the details of biochemistry, molecular biology, you might find a signature of some sort of designer.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.