But it is not given to every electrician to die in so glorious a manner as the justly envied Richmann.

I have procured air [oxygen] ... between five and six times as good as the best common air that I have ever met with.

In completing one discovery we never fail to get an imperfect knowledge of others.

The feeling of it to my lungs was not sensibly different from that of common air; but I fancied that my breast felt peculiarly light and easy for some time afterwards. Who can tell but that, in time, this pure air may become a fashionable article in luxury. Hitherto only two mice and myself have had the privilege of breathing it.

In completing one discovery we never fail to get an imperfect knowledge of others of which we could have no idea before, so that we cannot solve one doubt without creating several new ones.

Could we have entered into the mind of Sir Isaac Newton, and have traced all the steps by which he produced his great works, we might see nothing very extraordinary in the process.

What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of others.