The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley, vol 1 | Page 8

7.--Came to Rotherhithe. [See
Chapter 1.
2.]
June 20.--What have I done in the way of acquiring knowledge since January?
Projects begun:--
1. German (to be learnt).
2. Italian (to be learnt).
3. To read Muller's "Physiology."
4. To prepare for the Matriculation Examination at London University which requires knowledge of:--
a. Algebra--Geometry (did not begin to read for this till April.
b. Natural Philosophy (did not begin to read for this till April.
c. Chemistry.
d. Greek--Latin.
e. English History down to end of seventeenth century.
f. Ancient History. English Grammar.
5. To make copious notes of all things I read.
Projects completed:--
1. Partly.
2. Not at all.
3 and 5, stuck to these pretty closely.
4.e. Read as far as Henry III in Hume.
a. Evolution and involution.
b. Refraction of light--Polarisation partly.
c. Laws of combination--must read them over again.
d. Nothing.
f. Nothing.
I must get on faster than this. I MUST adopt a fixed plan of studies, for unless this is done I find time slips away without knowing it--and let me remember this--that it is better to read a little and thoroughly, than cram a crude undigested mass into my head, though it be great in quantity.
(This is about the only resolution I have ever stuck to--1845.)
(Well do I remember how in that little narrow surgery I used to work morning after morning and evening after evening at that insufferably dry and profitless book, Hume's "History," how I worked against hope through the series of thefts, robberies, and throat-cutting in those three first volumes, and how at length I gave up the task in utter disgust and despair.
Macintosh's "History," on the other hand, I remember reading with great pleasure, and also Guizot's "Civilisation in Europe," the scientific theoretical form of the latter especially pleased me, but the want of sufficient knowledge to test his conclusions was a great drawback. 1845.)
[There follow notes of work done in successive weeks--June 20 to August 9, and September 27 to October 4. History, German, Mathematics, Physics, Physiology; makes an electro-magnet; reads Guizot's "History of Civilisation in Europe," on which he remarks] an excellent work--very tough reading, though.
[At the beginning of October, under "Miscellaneous,"] Became acquainted with constitution of French Chambre des deputes and their parties.
[It was his practice to note any sayings that struck him:--]
Truths: "I hate all people who want to found sects. It is not error but sects--it is not error but sectarian error, nay, and even sectarian truth, which causes the unhappiness of mankind."--Lessing.
"It is only necessary to grow old to become more indulgent. I see no fault committed that I have not committed myself..."--Goethe.
"One solitary philosopher may be great, virtuous, and happy in the midst of poverty, but not a whole nation..."--Isaac Iselin.
1842.
January 30, Sunday evening.
I have for some time been pondering over a classification of knowledge. My scheme is to divide all knowledge in the first place into two grand divisions.
1. Objective--that for which a man is indebted to the external world; and
2. Subjective--that which he has acquired or may acquire by inward contemplation.
Subjective. / Metaphysics. / Metaphysics proper, Mathematics, Logic, Theology, Morality.
Objective. / Morality, History, Physiology, Physics.
Metaphysics comes immediately, of course, under the first (2) head--that is to say, the relations of the mind to itself; of this Mathematics and Logic, together with Theology, are branches.
I am in doubt under which head to put morality, for I cannot determine exactly in my own mind whether morality can exist independent of others, whether the idea of morality could ever have arisen in the mind of an isolated being or not. I am rather inclined to the opinion that it is objective.
Under the head of objective knowledge comes first Physics, including the whole body of the relations of inanimate unorganised bodies; secondly, Physiology. Including the structure and functions of animal bodies, including language and Psychology; thirdly comes History.
One object for which I have attempted to form an arrangement of knowledge is that I may test the amount of my own acquirements. I shall form an extensive list of subjects on this plan, and as I acquire any one of them I shall strike it out of the list. May the list soon get black! though at present I shall hardly be able, I am afraid, to spot the paper.
(A prophecy! a prophecy, 1845!).
[April 1842 introduces a number of quotations from Carlyle's Miscellaneous Writings, "Characteristics," some clear and crisp, others sinking into Carlyle's own vein of speculative mysticism, e.g.]
"In the mind as in the body the sign of health is unconsciousness."
"Of our thinking it is but the upper surface that we shape into articulate thought; underneath the region of argument and conscious discourse lies the region of meditation."
"Genius is ever a secret to itself."
"The healthy understanding, we should say, is neither the argumentative nor the Logical, but the Intuitive, for the end of understanding is not to prove and find reasons but to know and believe" (!)
"The ages of heroism