6 Honore de Balzac Quotes on Science

Honore de Balzac quotes on science

3. Penser, c'est voir! me dit-il un jour emporte par une de nos objections sur le principe de notre organisation. Toute science humaine repose sur la deduction, qui est une vision lente par laquelle on descend de la cause a l'effet, par laquelle on remonte de l'effet a la cause; ou, dans une plus large expression, toute poesie comme toute oeuvre d'art procede d'une rapide vision des choses.

58. If we study Nature attentively in its great evolutions as in its minutest works, we cannot fail to recognize the possibility of enchantment - giving to that word its exact significance. Man does not create forces; he employs the only force that exists and which includes all others, namely Motion, the breath incomprehensible of the sovereign Maker of the universe.

63. Science is the language of the Temporal world, Love is that of the Spiritual world. Thus man takes note of more than he is able to explain, while the Angelic Spirit sees and comprehends. Science depresses man; Love exalts the Angel. Science is still seeking, Love has found. Man judges Nature according to his own relations to her; the Angelic Spirit judges it in its relation to Heaven. In short, all things have a voice for the Spirit.

66. Nature knows nothing but solid bodies; your science deals only with combinations of surfaces. And so nature constantly gives the lie to all your laws; can you name one to which no fact makes an exception?

110. Il est certain que pendant le seizieme siecle, dans les annees qui le precederent et le suivirent, l'empoisonnement etait arrive a une perfection inconnue a la chimie moderne et que l'histoire a constatee. L'Italie, berceau des sciences modernes, fut, a cette epoque, inventrice et maitresse de ces secrets dont plusieurs se perdirent.

115. La liberte politique, la tranquillite d'une nation, la science meme, sont des presents pour lesquels le destin preleve des impots de sang!