Robert Boyle

Father of modern chemistry

Early Modern influential 100 sayings

Sayings by Robert Boyle

If a man will not be a fool, he must not be a dogmatist.

1661 — From 'The Sceptical Chymist', advocating for empirical evidence over rigid adherence to theories.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The book of nature is a fine and large piece of clock-work.

1688 — From 'A Disquisition about the Final Causes of Natural Things', reflecting his mechanistic view of t…
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I am not ashamed to confess that I have learned more from observation than from all the books I have ever read.

mid-17th century — Emphasizing the importance of empirical investigation.
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Nature is not a goddess, but a machine.

mid-17th century — A clear statement of his mechanistic philosophy.
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The air is a subtle, invisible, and elastic fluid.

1660s — A foundational description from his experiments on gases.
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I could not find in all the shops in London a glass bubble strong enough to resist the pressure of the air when exhausted.

1650s — Describing the challenges in his early experiments with the air pump.
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To be a good experimentalist, one must be a good observer.

mid-17th century — A key principle of his scientific methodology.
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I am not so much concerned to know what is true, as to know what is demonstrable.

mid-17th century — Emphasizing empirical proof and experimental verification.
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The knowledge of nature is the knowledge of God's works.

mid-17th century — A common sentiment among early modern natural philosophers.
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No experiment, however simple, is to be despised.

mid-17th century — Encouraging thoroughness and attention to detail in experimentation.
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I have often observed that the most unexpected results are the most instructive.

mid-17th century — Reflecting the serendipitous nature of scientific discovery.
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The true philosopher must be a master of his senses.

mid-17th century — Highlighting the importance of careful observation.
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My experiments are not meant to confirm my theories, but to discover the truth.

mid-17th century — A statement of scientific objectivity.
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I value not so much the multitude of experiments, as the exactness and fruitfulness of them.

mid-17th century — Emphasizing quality over quantity in scientific experimentation.
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The corpuscular philosophy is the most intelligible of all.

1660s — Advocating for the atomic theory of matter.
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I have ever esteemed it a part of my duty to make the world acquainted with what I have done.

mid-17th century — Reflecting his commitment to publishing and disseminating scientific knowledge.
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The Lord is pleased to teach me by my failures.

mid-17th century — A religious reflection on the process of scientific inquiry and its setbacks.
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I am not a slave to any system.

mid-17th century — Asserting his intellectual independence and rejection of dogma.
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The proper method of inquiry is to begin with experiments and then proceed to reasoning.

mid-17th century — A clear articulation of the inductive method.
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The world is a great machine, and man is a curious observer of its workings.

mid-17th century — Further elaborating on his mechanistic worldview.
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