Henry A. Bumstead

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“In the eighteenth century the development of mechanics and of {{w|History of gravitational theory|gravitational theory}} was carried on by the three Bernoullis, Euler, {{w|Alexis Clairaut|Clairaut}}, d'Alembert, and others. This development reached its culmination near the end of the century in the publication of Lagrange's {{w|Mécanique_analytique|’’Mécanique Analytique’’}} and of the {{w|Traité_de_mécanique_céleste|’’Mécanique Céleste’’}} of Laplace—works which for completeness and finish have seldom, if ever, been excelled.”

“For some unknown psychological reason, the appreciation of the possibilities of experiment as an intellectual tool and the ability to make use of its technique appear very late in the history of human development. A few individuals like Archimedes understood and practiced it, and it is difficult to understand why the seed which they sowed proved sterile.”

“... I believe that engaging in research is the best way and the only certain way for a teacher to keep himself alive intellectually and to retain his spirit and enthusiasm to the end. And even if the {{w|college}} he serves regards teaching and not research as its chief business, even then, I contend, he must be given a reasonable amount of time and reasonable opportunities for research in order that he may keep his intellectural health, just as he is given time for physical exercise in order that he may maintain his bodily health.”