There is no part of truth, whether great or small, which he will dishonour; and in the least things he will discern the greatest (Parmen.).

Like the ancient philosopher he sees the world pervaded by analogies, but he can also tell 'why in some cases a single instance is sufficient for an induction' (Mill's Logic), while in other cases a thousand examples would prove nothing.

He inquires into a portion of knowledge only, because the whole has grown too vast to be embraced by a single mind or life.

He has a clearer conception of the divisions of science and of their relation to the mind of man than was possible to the ancients.

Like Plato, he has a vision of the unity of knowledge, not as the beginning of philosophy to be attained by a study of elementary mathematics, but as the far-off result of the working of many minds in many ages.