I hold that popularization of science is successful if， at first， it does no more than spark the sense of wonder. To do that， it is sufficient to provide a glimpse of the findings of science without throughly explaining how those findings were achieved. It is easier to portray the destination than the journey. But， where possible， popularizers should try to chronicle some of the mistakes， false starts， dead ends and apparently hopeless confusion along the way. At least every now and then， we should provide the evidence and let the reader draw his or her own conclusion. This converts obedient assimilation of new knowledge into personal discovery. When you make the finding yourself—even if you’re the last person on Earth to see the light—you never forget it.
As a youngster， I was inspired by the popular science books and articles of George Gamow， James Jeans， Arthur Eddington， J.B.S. Haldane， Julian Huxley， Rachel Carson and Arthur C. Clarke—all of them trained in， and most of them leading practitioners of science. The popularity of well- written， well—explained， deeply imaginative books on science that touch our hearts as well as our minds seems greater in the last twenty years than ever before， and the number and disciplinary diversity of scientists writing these books is likewise unprecedented. Among the best contemporary scientist-popularizers， I think of Stephen Jay Gould， E. O. Wilson， Lewis Thomas and Richard Dawkins in biology； Steven Weinberg， Alan Lightman and Kip Thorne in physics； Roald Hoffmann in chemistry； and the early works of Fred Hoyle in astronomy. Isaac Asimov wrote capably on everything. （And while requiring calculus， the most consistently exciting， provocative and inspiring science popularization of the last fewdecades seems to me to be Volume I of Richard Feynman’s Introductory Lectures on Physics.） Nevertheless， current efforts are clearly nowhere near commensurate with the public good. And， of course， if we can’t read， we can’t benefit from such works， no matter how inspiring they are.
I want us to rescue Mr ‘Buckley’ and the millions like him. I also want us to stop turning out leaden， incurious， uncritical and unimaginative high school seniors. Our species needs， and deserves， a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic under—standing of how the world works.
Science， I maintain， is an absolutely essential tool for any society with a hope of surviving well into the next century with its fundamental values intact—not just science as engaged in by its practitioners， but science understood and embraced by the entire human community. And if the scientists will not bring this about， who will？
25
Of Studies
谈读书
Studies serve for delight， for ornament， and for ability. Their chief use for delight， is in privateness and retiring； for ornament， is in discourse； and for ability， is in the judgment， and disposition of business... Crafty men contemn studies， simple men admire them， and wise men use them； for they teach not their own use； but that is a wisdom without them， and above them， won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute； nor to believe and take for granted； nor to find talk and discourse； but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted， others to be swallowed， and some few to be chewed and digested； that is， some books are to be read only in parts； others to be read， but not curiously； and some few to be read wholly， and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy， and extracts made of them by others； but that would be only in the less important arguments， and the meaner sort of books； else distilled books are like common distilled waters， flashy things.
Reading maketh a full man； conference a ready man； and writing an exact man. And therefore， if a man write little， he had need have a great memory； if he confer little， he had need have a present wit； and if he read little， he had need have much cunning， to seem to know that he cloth not. Histories make men wise； poets witty； the mathematics subtle； natural philosophy deep； moral grave； logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay， there is no stand or impediment in the wit， but may be wrought out by fit studies； like as diseases of the body， may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins；shooting for the lungs and breast； gentle walking for the stomach； riding for the head； and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering， let him study the mathematics； for in demonstrations， if his wit be called away never so little， he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences， let him study the schoolmen； for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters， and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another， let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind， may have a special receipt.
26
Of Beauty
论美
Virtue is like a rich stone， best plain set： and surely virtue is best in a body that is comely， though not of delicate features： and that hath rather dignity of presence， than beauty of aspect Neither is it almost seen， that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue； as if nature were rather busy not to err， than in labour to produce excellency. And therefore， they prove accomplished， but not of great spirit； and study rather behaviour， than virtue； but this holds not always； for Augustus Caesar， Titus Vespasianus， Philip Ie Belle of France， Edward the Fourth of England. Alcitriades of Athens， Ismael the Sophy of Persia， were all high and great spirits， and yet the most beautiful men of their times. In beauty， that of favour is more than that of colour， and that of decent and gracious motion， more than that of favour.
