Jacob Bronowski

Jacob Bronowski was known for his eloquence in discussing science, humanism, and creativity. Here are some of his most notable quotes:

On Science and Knowledge:

1. “Science is a very human form of knowledge. We are always at the brink of the known; we always feel forward for what is to be hoped.”

2. “That is the essence of science: ask an impertinent question, and you are on the way to a pertinent answer.”

3. “There is no absolute knowledge. And those who claim it, whether scientists or dogmatists, open the door to tragedy.”

On Creativity and Human Progress:

4. “The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.”

5. “Man masters nature not by force but by understanding.”

6. “The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.”

On Ethics and Society:

7. “It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.”

8. “We have to understand that the world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is more important than the eye.”

9. “When people believe that they have absolute knowledge, with no test in reality, this is how they behave. This is what men do when they aspire to the knowledge of gods.” (From The Ascent of Man, reflecting on Auschwitz).

Would you like more context or discussion on any of these?