It is a mortifying truth, and ought to teach the wisest of us humility, that many of the most valuable discoveries have been the result of chance rather than of contemplation, and of accident rather than of design

Quote by Charles Caleb Colton

Topics: Discovery Quotes

True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it...

True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it...

Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity, than straightforward and...

Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity, than straightforward and...

The consequences of things are not always proportionate to the apparent magnitude of those events...

The consequences of things are not always proportionate to the apparent magnitude of those events...

As no roads are so rough as those that have just been mended, so no...

As no roads are so rough as those that have just been mended, so no...

To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get...

To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get...

The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them...

The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them...

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but...

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but...

It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave than to expend...

It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave than to expend...

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship, never.

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship, never.

There is this paradox in pride it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from...

There is this paradox in pride it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from...

Memory is the friend of wit, but the treacherous ally of invention; there are many...

Memory is the friend of wit, but the treacherous ally of invention; there are many...

Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance.

Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance.

A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we...

A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we...

Death is the liberator of him whom freedom cannot release, the physician of him whom...

Death is the liberator of him whom freedom cannot release, the physician of him whom...

In life we shall find many men that are great, and some that are good,...

In life we shall find many men that are great, and some that are good,...

Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.

Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.

True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes,...

True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes,...

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it...

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it...

Contemporaries appreciate the person rather than their merit, posterity will regard the merit rather than...

Contemporaries appreciate the person rather than their merit, posterity will regard the merit rather than...

The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our...

The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our...