Venus/observation

Famous quotes containing the words venus and/or observation:

    For her own person,
    It beggared all description: she did lie
    In her pavilion—cloth of gold, of tissue—
    O’er-picturing that Venus where we see
    The fancy outwork nature.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    I should say that the most prominent scientific men of our country, and perhaps of this age, are either serving the arts and not pure science, or are performing faithful but quite subordinate labors in particular departments. They make no steady and systematic approaches to the central fact.... There is wanting constant and accurate observation with enough of theory to direct and discipline it. But, above all, there is wanting genius.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)