Microcosmographia Academica Quotes

“There is only one argument for doing something; the rest are arguments for doing nothing”
― Francis MacDonald Cornford, Microcosmographia Academica

“The Principle of the Wedge is that you should not act justly now for fear of raising expectations that you may act still more justly in the future­ expectations which you are afraid you will not have the courage to satisfy.

The Principle of the Dangerous Precedent is that you should not now do an admittedly right action for fear you, or your equally timid successors, should not have the courage to do right in some future case, which, ex hypothesi, is essentially different, but superficially resembles the present one.

The Principle of Unripe Time is that people should not do at the present moment what they think right at that moment, because the moment at which they think it right has not yet arrived.”
― Francis Macdonald Cornford, Microcosmographia Academica

“The political motive in the academic breast is honest enough. It is fear---genuine, perpetual, heart-felt timorousness. All the Political Arguments are addressed to this passion. Have you ever noticed how people say, 'I'm afraid I don't ...' when they mean, 'I think I don't ...'?”
― Francis Macdonald Cornford, Microcosmographia Academica

“Cynicism is the besetting and venial fault of declining youth, and disillusionment its last illusion.”
― Francis Macdonald Cornford, Microcosmographia Academica