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

to exist per
se--it must have a something to qualify), but with different qualities.
Let us suppose then an Eon--a something with no quality but that of
existence--this Eon endued with all the intelligence, mental qualities,
and that in the highest degree--is God. This combination of intelligence

with existence we may suppose to have existed from eternity. At the
creation we may suppose that a portion of the Eon was separated from
the intelligence, and it was ordained--it became a natural law--that it
should have the properties of gravitation, etc.--that is, that it should
give to man the ideas of those properties. The Eon in this state is matter
in the abstract. Matter, then, is Eon in the simplest form in which it
possesses qualities appreciable by the senses. Out of this matter, by the
superimposition of fresh qualities, was made all things that are.
1841.
January 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