“That science has long been neglected and declining in England, is not an opinion originating with me, but is shared by many, and has been expressed by higher authority than mine.”

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.

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.

Some kinds of nails, such as those used for defending the soles of coarse shoes, called hobnails, require a particular form of the head, which is made by the stroke of a die.

It is difficult to estimate the misery inflicted upon thousands of persons, and the absolute pecuniary penalty imposed upon multitudes of intellectual workers by the loss of their time, destroyed by organ-grinders and other similar nuisances.

Whenever a man can get hold of numbers, they are invaluable: if correct, they assist in informing his own mind, but they are still more useful in deluding the minds of others. Numbers are the masters of the weak, but the slaves of the strong.

What is there in a name? It is merely an empty basket, until you put something into it.

For one person who is blessed with the power of invention, many will always be found who have the capacity of applying principles.

At each increase of knowledge, as well as on the contrivance of every new tool, human labour becomes abridged.

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.

Another mode of accumulating power arises from lifting a weight and then allowing it to fall.

The economy of human time is the next advantage of machinery in manufactures.

The whole of the developments and operations of analysis are now capable of being executed by machinery … As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of science.

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.

Whenever the work is itself light, it becomes necessary, in order to economize time, to increase the velocity.

I wish to God these calculations had been executed by steam.

Perhaps the most important principle on which the economy of a manufacture depends, is the division of labour amongst the persons who perform the work.

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.

In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.

Arguments from authority carry little weight, authorities have made mistakes in the past. They will do so again in the future. Perhaps a better way to say it is that in science there are no authorities; at most, there are experts.

Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.