'From [1854] until 1885 Huxley's labours extended over the widest field of biology and philosophy ever covered by any naturalist with the single exception of Aristotle'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This line notes Huxley's work spanned biology and philosophy more broadly than almost any naturalist except Aristotle.
- In plain terms
- Huxley worked in many fields of biology and philosophy like no one else.
- What can you take from it?
- Broad expertise across fields is rare and valuable.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is breadth better than depth?
- How do we measure contribution?
Another view
The quote focuses on past figures and may not apply to modern specialization.
More from Thomas Henry Huxley
'The illustrious comparative anatomist, Huxley, Darwin's great general in the battles that had to be fought, but not a naturalist, far less a student of living…
Permalink to quote #79 'I believed that he was the greatest man I was ever likely to meet, and I believe that all the more firmly today'
Permalink to quote #81 'It was worth being born to have known Huxley.'
Permalink to quote #78
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