at the microscope would show him in any stagnant
pool, whether fresh water or salt, of Desmidiae, Diatoms, and all
those wondrous atomies which seem as yet to defy our classification
into plants or animals. Suppose he learnt something of this, but
nothing of aught else. Would he have gained no solid wisdom? He
would be a stupider man than I have a right to believe any of my
readers to be, if he had not gained thereby somewhat of the most
valuable of treasures--namely, that inductive habit of mind, that
power of judging fairly of facts, without which no good or lasting
work will be done, whether in physical science, in social science, in
politics, in philosophy, in philology, or in history.

But more: let me urge you to study Natural Science, on grounds which
may be to you new and unexpected--on social, I had almost said on
political, grounds.

We all know, and I trust we all love, the names of Liberty, Equality,
and Brotherhood. We feel, I trust, that these words are too
beautiful not to represent true and just ideas; and that therefore
they will come true, and be fulfilled, somewhen, somewhere, somehow.
It may be in a shape very different from that which you, or I, or any
man expects; but still they will be fulfilled.

But if they are to come true, it is we, the individual men, who must
help them to come true for the whole world, by practising them
ourselves, when and where we can. And I tell you--that in becoming
scientific men, in studying science and acquiring the scientific
habit of mind, you will find yourselves enjoying a freedom, an
equality, a brotherhood, such as you will not find elsewhere just
now.

Freedom: what do we want freedom for? For this, at least; that we
may be each and all able to think what we choose; and to say what we
choose also, provided we do not say it rudely or violently, so as to
provoke a breach of the peace. That last was Mr. Buckle's definition
of freedom of speech. That was the only limit to it which he would
allow; and I think that that is Mr. John Stuart Mill's limit also.
It is mine. And I think we have that kind of freedom in these
islands as perfectly as any men are likely to have it on this earth.

But what I complain of is, that when men have got the freedom, three
out of four of them will not use it. What?--someone will answer--Do
you suppose that I will not say what I choose, and that I dare not
speak my own mind to any man