‘The scribes full of wisdom,
Their names will last forever.
They leave for an inheritance,
Their teachings and their books.
Their teachings are their Pyramids,
Their magical power touches all those who read their writings.’
Egyptian Hieratic Papyrus in the British Museum
‘The instinct of constructiveness, which is one of the chief incentives to artistic creation, can find in scientific systems a satisfaction more massive than any epic poem. Disinterested curiosity, which is the essence of almost all intellectual effort, finds with astonished delight that science can unveil secrets which might well have seemed for ever undiscoverable…A life devoted to science is therefore a happy life, and its happiness is derived from the very best sources that are open to dwellers on this troubled and passionate planet.’
Bertrand Russell
‘The Place of Science in a Liberal Education’
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access