William Harvey quotes

William Harvey was an English scientist and physician known for his discovery of the circulation of blood in the human body. His groundbreaking work transformed understanding of the cardiovascular system and laid the foundations of modern physiology. He is celebrated as one of the most influential figures in the history of medicine. Here are 10 of his quotes:

I profess both to learn and to teach anatomy, not from books but from dissections; not from positions of philosophers but from the fabric of nature.

William Harvey

I appeal to your own eyes as my witness and judge.

William Harvey

The heart of animals is the foundation of their life, the sovereign of everything within them, the sun of their microcosm, that upon which all growth depends, from which all power proceeds.

William Harvey

As art is a habit with reference to things to be done, so is science a habit in respect to things to be known.

William Harvey

Very many maintain that all we know is still infinitely less than all that still remains unknown.

William Harvey

Very many maintain that all we know is still infinitely less than all that still remains unknown; nor do philosophers pin their faith to others' precepts in such wise that they lose their liberty, and cease to give credence to the conclusions of their proper senses. Neither do they swear such fealty to their mistress Antiquity that they openly, and in sight of all, deny and desert their friend Truth.

William Harvey

The studious and good and true, never suffer their minds to be warped by the passions of hatred and envy, which unfit men duly to weigh the arguments that are advanced in behalf of truth, or to appreciate the proposition that is even fairly demonstrated. Neither do they think it unworthy of them to change their opinion if truth and undoubted demonstration require them to do so. They do not esteem it discreditable to desert error, though sanctioned by the highest antiquity, for they know full well that to err, to be deceived, is human; that many things are discovered by accident and that many may be learned indifferently from any quarter, by an old man from a youth, by a person of understanding from one of inferior capacity.

William Harvey

There is a lust in man no charm can tame: Of loudly publishing his neighbor's shame: On eagles wings immortal scandals fly, while virtuous actions are born and die.

William Harvey

Man comes into the world naked and unarmed, as if nature had destined him for a social creature, and ordained him to live under equitable laws and in peace.

William Harvey