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About this quote

What does it mean?
Proctor highlights John Herschel's superior standing among his contemporaries in astronomy.
In plain terms
Herschel stood alone in his astronomical greatness.
What can you take from it?
Herschel was unmatched by his peers.

Where it applies

  • biography
  • historical review
  • science history

Putting it to work

  • study historical figures
  • evaluate contributions

Questions to consider

  • Who defines greatness?
  • How do we measure impact?

Another view

Greatness is subjective and may overlook contributions from less famous peers.

More from Richard Anthony Proctor

  1. An air of mystery surrounds his researches, lying, as they do, chiefly in depths to which the far-seeing eye of the telescope alone penetrates.

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. The whole system has been long since swept away, and its records merely remain as illustrations of perverted ingenuity.

    Permalink to quote #3

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