George Sarton quotes

George Sarton was a renowned Belgian-American historian of science and one of the founders of the discipline of history of science. Born in Ghent, Belgium in 1884, Sarton later moved to the United States where he became a professor at Harvard University. He is best known for his monumental work, "Introduction to the History of Science," which has become a classic in the field. Sarton's pioneering research and writings have had a lasting impact on the study of the development of scientific thought. Learn more about this influential figure in the history of science by exploring his life and work.

The most malicious kind of hatred is that which is built upon a theological foundation.

- George Sarton

It is childish to assume that science began in Greece; the Greek "miracle" was prepared by millennia of work in Egypt, Mesopotamia and possibly in other regions. Greek science was less an invention than a revival.

- George Sarton

My main interest is the love of truth, whether pleasant or not. Truth is self-sufficient, and there is nothing to which it can be subordinated without loss. When truth is made subservient to anything else, however great (say religion), it becomes impure and sordid.

- George Sarton

Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind; their knowledge has improved only because of their gradual abandonment of ancient errors, poor approximations, and premature conclusions.

- George Sarton

Ancient portraits are symbolic images without any immediate relation to the individuals represented; they are not portraits as we understand them. It is remarkable that philologists who are capable of carrying accuracy to the extremes in the case of words are as credulous as babies when it comes to "images," and yet an image is so full of information that ten thousands words would not add up to it.

- George Sarton

We have reason to believe that when, during the crusades, Europe at last began to establish hospitals, they were inspired by the Arabs of near East. The first hospital in Paris, Les Quinze-vingt, was founded by Louis IX after his return from the crusade 1254-1260.

- George Sarton