登陆注册
5295000000024

第24章 PART VI(3)

But since that time other reasons have occurred to me,by which I have been led to change my opinion,and to think that I ought indeed to go on committing to writing all the results which I deemed of any moment,as soon as I should have tested their truth,and to bestow the same care upon them as I would have done had it been my design to publish them.This course commended itself to me,as well because I thus afforded myself more ample inducement to examine them thoroughly,for doubtless that is always more narrowly scrutinized which we believe will be read by many,than that which is written merely for our private use (and frequently what has seemed to me true when I first conceived it,has appeared false when Ihave set about committing it to writing),as because I thus lost no opportunity of advancing the interests of the public,as far as in me lay,and since thus likewise,if my writings possess any value,those into whose hands they may fall after my death may be able to put them to what use they deem proper.But I resolved by no means to consent to their publication during my lifetime,lest either the oppositions or the controversies to which they might give rise,or even the reputation,such as it might be,which they would acquire for me,should be any occasion of my losing the time that I had set apart for my own improvement.For though it be true that every one is bound to promote to the extent of his ability the good of others,and that to be useful to no one is really to be worthless,yet it is likewise true that our cares ought to extend beyond the present,and it is good to omit doing what might perhaps bring some profit to the living,when we have in view the accomplishment of other ends that will be of much greater advantage to posterity.And in truth,Iam quite willing it should be known that the little I have hitherto learned is almost nothing in comparison with that of which I am ignorant,and to the knowledge of which I do not despair of being able to attain;for it is much the same with those who gradually discover truth in the sciences,as with those who when growing rich find less difficulty in making great acquisitions,than they formerly experienced when poor in making acquisitions of much smaller amount.Or they may be compared to the commanders of armies,whose forces usually increase in proportion to their victories,and who need greater prudence to keep together the residue of their troops after a defeat than after a victory to take towns and provinces.For he truly engages in battle who endeavors to surmount all the difficulties and errors which prevent him from reaching the knowledge of truth,and he is overcome in fight who admits a false opinion touching a matter of any generality and importance,and he requires thereafter much more skill to recover his former position than to make great advances when once in possession of thoroughly ascertained principles.As for myself,if I have succeeded in discovering any truths in the sciences (and I trust that what is contained in this volume 1will show that I have found some),I can declare that they are but the consequences and results of five or six principal difficulties which I have surmounted,and my encounters with which I reckoned as battles in which victory declared for me.I will not hesitate even to avow my belief that nothing further is wanting to enable me fully to realize my designs than to gain two or three similar victories;and that I am not so far advanced in years but that,according to the ordinary course of nature,I may still have sufficient leisure for this end.But I conceive myself the more bound to husband the time that remains the greater my expectation of being able to employ it aright,and I should doubtless have much to rob me of it,were I to publish the principles of my physics:for although they are almost all so evident that to assent to them no more is needed than simply to understand them,and although there is not one of them of which I do not expect to be able to give demonstration,yet,as it is impossible that they can be in accordance with all the diverse opinions of others,I foresee that Ishould frequently be turned aside from my grand design,on occasion of the opposition which they would be sure to awaken.

It may be said,that these oppositions would be useful both in making me aware of my errors,and,if my speculations contain anything of value,in bringing others to a fuller understanding of it;and still farther,as many can see better than one,in leading others who are now beginning to avail themselves of my principles,to assist me in turn with their discoveries.But though I recognize my extreme liability to error,and scarce ever trust to the first thoughts which occur to me,yet-the experience I have had of possible objections to my views prevents me from anticipating any profit from them.For I have already had frequent proof of the judgments,as well of those I esteemed friends,as of some others to whom I thought I was an object of indifference,and even of some whose malignancy and envy would,I knew,determine them to endeavor to discover what partiality concealed from the eyes of my friends.But it has rarely happened that anything has been objected to me which I had myself altogether overlooked,unless it were something far removed from the subject:so that I have never met with a single critic of my opinions who did not appear to me either less rigorous or less equitable than myself.

And further,I have never observed that any truth before unknown has been brought to light by the disputations that are practised in the schools;for while each strives for the victory,each is much more occupied in making the best of mere verisimilitude,than in weighing the reasons on both sides of the question;and those who have been long good advocates are not afterwards on that account the better judges.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 万峰童真禅师语录

    万峰童真禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 交友金言

    交友金言

    《徽商的智慧:交友金言》主要讲述了,朋友的高度决定你人生的高度,你与之交往的人就是你的未来。高度决定视野,角度改变观念,尺度把握人生。今天,我们在与人交往过程中,需要打开心灵的窗户,让缕缕清新的空气徐徐而来。在最困难的时候,如果能略微改变一下自己的心态,一切烦恼也许就能迎刃而解,内心的坚忍不拔胜过人世间的任何物质财富。《徽商的智慧:交友金言》试图汲取徽商人生交往过程中睿智语句,加以释读,并以作者孔蕙心对所能感悟到的某一层面加以延伸,以期为读者提供感悟人生的线索。
  • 商业的逻辑:正和岛智库揭秘新经济大趋势

    商业的逻辑:正和岛智库揭秘新经济大趋势

    为了推动管理研究能够更好地贡献于实践,我们需要这样的努力,而真正的挑战是,如何在一系列的实践研究基础上寻找方法、工具与理论,并使其转化为管理者自己的智慧,帮助其在当下的环境中产生价值。直面中国管理实践,我们依旧需要回归到实践中,但是又要抽离出来,沉静地寻找方法论的意义;回归管理的本质,深刻地洞察那些基本的命题,让管理实践研究具备持久的生命力和价值。
  • 陈年故事

    陈年故事

    臧来宝死了,是挨枪子死的。我以为,每个人的性格形成都有两种因素,一是遗传基因,二是后天的影响和教育。臧来宝的父亲曾经是码头帮的帮主,后来又下海当过强盗,臧来宝身上的那股匪气是与生俱来的;而臧来宝的老娘则是48岁高龄才生下他,老来得子的狂欢,让这宝贝儿子享尽了人世间的宠爱,七惯八惯就给惯成那副德性了。再加上那个动荡岁月,善良的人总是忍气吞声战战兢兢,臧来宝就更加肆无忌惮了。比如这上班8小时吧,全厂的工人都忙着赶工时——我们海阳造船厂的工时定额是很紧的,而臧来宝从来不赶。
  • 妃同寻常:王爷,走开

    妃同寻常:王爷,走开

    “林梓!若我还能活着!不死不休!”她瓷黎,第一大国的丞相府大小姐,只因一步错,满盘皆输!却没想到竟能重生!一切都在按照自己的复仇计划进行,只是,这个独孤卿哪来的?前世自己和他一点都没有交集啊!
  • 异界之勇将无双

    异界之勇将无双

    平行空间,另一块大陆,兵法权谋的争斗,为皇朝霸权奠基一个空前的帝国,面对新兴燃起的烈阳国,其他老牌帝国将如何对待?本书将演义一场所谓的“纸上谈兵”,历史武将的诞生将给本书添加一个什么样的色彩呢?尽请关注。
  • 先婚后爱

    先婚后爱

    他是全城女人最想嫁的男人,竟只宠爱一个带着拖油瓶的女人!她若想要天上的星星,他绝不摘月亮。可是,他却在周年约会后,将喜帖递上,“明天我结婚。”她微笑收下,“恭喜。”
  • 永恒升级

    永恒升级

    少年伏凌拥有神秘身份,体内寄生着两只极其强大的巨魔,却对其一无所知。有朝一日,巨魔控体,寄主伏凌该如何应对?少年伏凌天生普通,却通过普通修炼成就强者之躯,因太过强大,而找不到对手,加上至亲身亡,感情全无,只能选择重生……重生之路极其漫长,永恒系统尽全力复活伏明,千年重铸身体穿越异世,伏明在异世将会发生什么有趣的事呢?
  • 德川家康(新版)5:龙争虎斗

    德川家康(新版)5:龙争虎斗

    日本版的《三国演义》,史书、权书、商书“三书合一”,政企商业领袖必读图书!一部日本首相要求内阁成员必须熟读的书,一部经营之神松下幸之助要求松下干部必须研读的书,一部美国驻日大使认为,要了解日本、超越日本,必先阅读的书,一部韩国媒体评为“影响韩国CEO最有价值古典图书。”美国前驻日大使赖世和说:“每一个日本人都是一个德川家康,要了解日本、超越日本,必须先了解德川家康。”德川家康究竟是何许人?德川家康结束了日本百余年的战乱,开创三百年太平盛世,建立了完整意义上的日本国。《德川家康》将日本战国中后期织田信长、武田信玄、丰臣秀吉、德川家康等群雄并起的历史苍劲地铺展开来。
  • 神农本草经赞

    神农本草经赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。