Charles Babbage Quotes - Page 2

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• Miracles may be, for anything we know to the contrary, phenomena of a higher order of God's laws, superior to, and, under certain conditions, controlling the inferior order known to us as the ordinary laws of nature.

  Charles Babbage

  Order, Law, Miracle

  Charles Babbage (1864). “Passages from the Life of a Philosopher”, p.490, London : Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green

  7 Copy quote

• The half minute which we daily devote to the winding-up of our watches is an exertion of labour almost insensible; yet, by the aid of a few wheels, its effect is spread over the whole twenty-four hours.

  Charles Babbage

  Half, Four, Wheels

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.38

  10 Copy quote

• A powerful attraction exists, therefore, to the promotion of a study and of duties of all others engrossing the time most completely, and which is less benefited than most others by any acquaintance with science.

  Charles Babbage

  Powerful, Study, Promotion

  Charles Babbage (1830). “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England: And on Some of Its Causes, by Charles Babbage (1830). To which is Added On the Alleged Decline of Science in England, by a Foreigner (Gerard Moll) with a Foreword by Michael Faraday (1831).”, p.13

  14 Copy quote

• The true value of the Christian religion rests, not upon speculative views of the Creator, which must necessarily be different in each individual, according to the extent of the knowledge of the finite being, who employs his own feeble powers in contemplating the infinite: but it rests upon those doctrines of kindness and benevolence which that religion claims and enforces, not merely in favour of man himself but of every creature susceptible of pain or of happiness.

  Charles Babbage

  Christian, Pain, Kindness

  "Passages from the Life of a Philosopher". Book by Charles Babbage, 1864.

  6 Copy quote

• The possessors of wealth can scarcely be indifferent to processes which, nearly or remotely have been the fertile source of their possessions.

  Charles Babbage

  Wealth, Source, Process

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.4

  5 Copy quote

• Telegraphs are machines for conveying information over extensive lines with great rapidity.

  Charles Babbage

  Machines, Lines, Information

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.36

  85 Copy quote

• A tool is usually more simple than a machine; it is generally used with the hand, whilst a machine is frequently moved by animal or steam power.

  Charles Babbage

  Animal, Simple, Hands

  Charles Babbage (1827). “An Essay on General Principles which regulate the Application of Machinery to Manufactures”, p.4

  9 Copy quote

• In turning from the smaller instruments in frequent use to the larger and more important machines, the economy arising from the increase of velocity becomes more striking.

  Charles Babbage

  Important, Machines, Use

  Charles Babbage (1832). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.26

  22 Copy quote

• Long intervals frequently elapse between the discovery of new principles in science and their practical application... Those intellectual qualifications, which give birth to new principles or to new methods, are of quite a different order from those which are necessary for their practical application.

  Charles Babbage

  Creativity, Science, Discovery

  Charles Babbage (1830). “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England: And on Some of Its Causes, by Charles Babbage (1830). To which is Added On the Alleged Decline of Science in England, by a Foreigner (Gerard Moll) with a Foreword by Michael Faraday (1831).”, p.17

  11 Copy quote

• Precedents are treated by powerful minds as fetters with which to bind down the weak, as reasons with which to mistify the moderately informed, and as reeds which they themselves fearlessly break through whenever new combinations and difficult emergencies demand their highest efforts.

  Charles Babbage

  Powerful, Science, Break Through

  Charles Babbage, Anthony Hyman (1989). “Science and Reform: Selected Works of Charles Babbage”, p.202, Cambridge University Press

  6 Copy quote

• You will be able to appreciate the influence of such an Engine on the future progress of science. I live in a country which is incapable of estimating it.

  Charles Babbage

  Country, Appreciation, Science

  "Charles Babbage: Pioneer of the Computer". Book by Anthony Hyman, 1982.

  8 Copy quote

• The public character of every public servant is legitimate subject of discussion, and his fitness or unfitness for office may be fairly canvassed by any person.

  Charles Babbage

  Character, Office, May

  Charles Babbage (1830). “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes”, p.11

  11 Copy quote

• There are few circumstances which so strongly distinguish the philosopher, as the calmness with which he can reply to criticisms he may think undeservedly severe.

  Charles Babbage

  Thinking, Criticism, May

  Charles Babbage (1830). “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes”, p.10

  23 Copy quote

• The fatigue produced on the muscles of the human frame does not altogether depend on the actual force employed in each effort, but partly on the frequency with which it is exerted.

  Charles Babbage

  Effort, Doe, Force

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.30

  9 Copy quote

• I am inclined to attach some importance to the new system of manufacturing; and venture to throw it out with the hope of its receiving a full discussion among those who are most interestedin the subject.

  Charles Babbage

  Venture, Receiving, Importance

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.8

  5 Copy quote

• As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of the science. Whenever any result is sought by its aid, the question will then arise — by what course of calculation can these results be arrived at by the machine in the shortest time?

  Charles Babbage

  Machines, Aids, Guides

  Charles Babbage, Philip Morrison, Emily Morrison (1961). “Charles Babbage on the Principles and Development of the Calculator: And Other Seminal Writings”, p.69, Courier Corporation

  14 Copy quote

• The quantity of meaning compressed into small space by algebraic signs, is another circumstance that facilitates the reasonings we are accustomed to carry on by their aid.

  Charles Babbage

  Space, Aids, Circumstances

  Charles Babbage (1826). “On the Influence of Signs in Mathematical Reasoning”, p.6

  5 Copy quote

• Scientific knowledge scarcely exists amongst the higher classes of society. The discussion in the Houses of Lords or of Commons, which arise on the occurrence of any subjects connected with science, sufficiently prove this fact.

  Charles Babbage

  Government, Class, House

  Charles Babbage, Anthony Hyman (1989). “Science and Reform: Selected Works of Charles Babbage”, p.118, Cambridge University Press

  7 Copy quote

• The successful construction of all machinery depends on the perfection of the tools employed; and whoever is a master in the arts of tool-making possesses the key to the construction of all machines... The contrivance and construction of tools must therefore ever stand at the head of the industrial arts.

  Charles Babbage

  Art, Successful, Keys

  Charles Babbage, Philip Morrison, Emily Morrison (1961). “Charles Babbage on the Principles and Development of the Calculator: And Other Seminal Writings”, p.322, Courier Corporation

  6 Copy quote

• The tastes and pursuits of manhood will bear on them the traces of the earlier impressions of our education. It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that some portion of the neglect of science in England, may be attributed to the system of education we pursue.

  Charles Babbage

  Education, Science, May

  Charles Babbage, Anthony Hyman (1989). “Science and Reform: Selected Works of Charles Babbage”, p.116, Cambridge University Press

  4 Copy quote

• Those from whose pocket the salary is drawn, and by whose appointment the officer was made, have always a right to discuss the merits of their officers, and their modes of exercising the duties they are paid to perform.

  Charles Babbage

  Exercise, Salary, Merit

  Charles Babbage (1830). “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes”, p.11

  13 Copy quote

• Remember that accumulated knowledge, like accumulated capital, increases at compound interest: but it differs from the accumulation of capital in this; that the increase of knowledge produces a more rapid rate of progress, whilst the accumulation of capital leads to a lower rate of interest. Capital thus checks it own accumulation: knowledge thus accelerates its own advance. Each generation, therefore, to deserve comparison with its predecessor, is bound to add much more largely to the common stock than that which it immediately succeeds.

  Charles Babbage

  Knowledge, Science, Progress

  "The Exposition of 1851; or, Views of the industry, the science, and the government of England".

  20 Copy quote

• No person will deny that the highest degree of attainable accuracy is an object to be desired, and it is generally found that the last advances towards precision require a greater devotion of time, labour, and expense, than those which precede them.

  Charles Babbage

  Degrees, Lasts, Measurement

  Charles Babbage, Anthony Hyman (1989). “Science and Reform: Selected Works of Charles Babbage”, p.119, Cambridge University Press

  7 Copy quote

• The proportion between the velocity with which men or animals move, and the weights they carry, is a matter of considerable importance, particularly in military affairs.

  Charles Babbage

  Military, Moving, Men

  Charles Babbage (1832). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.25

  28 Copy quote

• The difference between a tool and a machine is not capable of very precise distinction; nor is it necessary, in a popular explanation of those terms, to limit very strictly their acceptation.

  Charles Babbage

  Differences, Tools, Machines

  Charles Babbage (1841). “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures”, p.12

  27 Copy quote

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