It will be readily admitted, that a degree conferred by an university, ought to be a pledge to the public that he who holds it possesses a certain quantity of knowledge.

I have no desire to write my own biography, as long as I have strength and means to do better work.

Whenever the work is itself light, it becomes necessary, in order to economize time, to increase the velocity.

For one person who is blessed with the power of invention, many will always be found who have the capacity of applying principles.

Mr. Herschel... brought with him the calculations of the computers, and we commenced the tedious process of verification. After a time many discrepancies occurred, and at one point these discordances were so numerous that I exclaimed, "I wish to God these calculations had been executed by steam," to which Herschel replied, "It is quite possible."

If we look at the fact, we shall find that the great inventions of the age are not, with us at least, always produced in universities.

Perhaps it would be better for science, that all criticism should be avowed.