I have far more confidence in the one man who works mentally and bodily at a matter than in the six who merely talk about it — and I therefore hope a… - Michael Faraday

Nature is our kindest friend and best critic in experimental science if we only allow her intimations to fall unbiased on our minds.

Bacon in his instruction tells us that the scientific student ought not to be as the ant, who gathers merely, nor as the spider who spins from her own bowels, but rather as the bee who both gathers and produces. All this is true of the teaching afforded by any part of physical science. Electricity is often called wonderful, beautiful; but it is so only in common with the other forces of nature. The beauty of electricity or of any other force is not that the power is mysterious, and unexpected, touching every sense at unawares in turn, but that it is under law, and that the taught intellect can even now govern it largely. The human mind is placed above, and not beneath it, and it is in such a point of view that the mental education afforded by science is rendered super-eminent in dignity, in practical application and utility; for by enabling the mind to apply the natural power through law, it conveys the gifts of God to man.

Do not refer to your toy-books, and say you have seen that before. Answer me rather, if I ask you, have you understood it before?

The important thing is to know how to take all things quietly.