They had seen, as he saw, the futility of all attempts at natural philosophy by mere thinking and arguing, without coming into contact with the contradictions or corrections or verifications of experience.

In Italy, in Germany, in England there were laborious and successful workers, who had long felt that to be in touch with nature was the only way to know.

But no one had yet come before the world to proclaim this on the house-tops, as the key of the only certain path to the secrets of nature, the watchword of a revolution in the methods of interpreting her; and this Bacon did with an imposing authority and power which enforced attention.

He spoke the thoughts of patient toilers like Harvey with a largeness and richness which they could not command, and which they perhaps smiled at.

He disentangled and spoke the vague thoughts of his age, which other men had not the courage and clearness of mind to formulate.