Man is constituted as a speculative being; he contemplates the world, and the objects around him, not with a passive indifferent eye, but as a system disposed with order and design.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humans are designed to actively observe and find order in the world rather than just passively seeing it.
- In plain terms
- People naturally look for patterns and design in everything around them.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek order and design in your observations.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you see design in nature?
- How do you observe the world?
Another view
Not everyone actively seeks design in their observations.
More from John Herschel
Time! Time! Time! - we must not impugn the Scripture Chronology, but we must interpret it in accordance with whatever shall appear on fair enquiry to be the tr…
Permalink to quote #1 To the natural philosopher there is no natural object unimportant or trifling.
Permalink to quote #3 Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceiv…
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
We adore chaos because we love to produce order.
M. C. EscherM. C. Escher quote #33 Man is a creation of desire, not a creation of need.
Gaston BachelardGaston Bachelard quote #1 What is this jest in majesty? This ass in passion? How do God and Devil combine to form a live dog?
Vladimir NabokovVladimir Nabokov quote #1