John Wilkins

“If we do but discover the Art of Flying, all our Communications will be more speedy, and our inland Conveyances by Carriages, will be of little use.”

“Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be governed by it, and can only please by its resemblance.”

“It were happy for us, if we could prescribe to our wills, and so govern our own passions.”

“It must needs be a great impediment to the growth of any Art or Science, for men to be so lazily contented with that which their forefathers have delivered unto them.”

“The great design of this discourse is to prove, that a new world may be discovered in the moon.”

“I must confess, I should think it a far more noble and gallant design, if we could contrive a conveyance to the moon.”

“Religion does not consist in the believing of this or that opinion, but in the practice of a good life.”

“Every thing is esteemed in proportion to its use and benefit.”

“I am not so much in love with the vain title of being an author, as to beget a book, merely for the sake of being a father to it.”