George Sarton: Doing

“Our own culture, of Greek and Hebraic origin, is the one that interests us the most… We do not say that it is the best culture, but simply that it is ours. To claim that it of necessity superior would be wrong and evil. That attitude is the main source of international trouble in the world. …Each nation prefers its own usages.”

George Sarton

Preface.
A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

World , Evil

“Superstitions… are nothing but persistent errors, foolish beliefs, and irrational fears. Superstitions are infinite in number and scope… It would not do to ignore them altogether, only if we should never forget the weakness and fragility of our minds.”

George Sarton

Preface.
A History of Science Vol.2 Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three Centuries B.C. (1959)
Context: Superstitions... are nothing but persistent errors, foolish beliefs, and irrational fears. Superstitions are infinite in number and scope... It would not do to ignore them altogether, only if we should never forget the weakness and fragility of our minds. The consciousness that superstitions are rife in our own society is a healthy shock to our self-conceit and a warning.... it lets us judge ancient superstitions with more indulgence and with a sense of humor. We could not overlook them without falsifying the general picture nor judge them too severely without hypocrisy.

Fear , Error , Forgetting

“The whole past and the whole world are alive in my heart, and I shall do my part to communicate their presence to my readers.”

George Sarton

Preface.
A History of Science Vol.2 Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three Centuries B.C. (1959)

World , Communication , Past , Heart

“If we are generous enough, we can stretch our souls everywhere and everywhen else. If we succeed in doing so, we shall discover that our present embraces the past and the future and that the whole world is our province.”

George Sarton

Preface.
A History of Science Vol.2 Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three Centuries B.C. (1959)

World , Soul , Past , Future

“The rationalism of the creative minds was tempered by abundant fantasies, and the supreme beauty of the monuments was probably spoiled by the circumambient vanities and ugliness; in a few cases the Greeks came as close to perfection as it was possible to do, yet they were human and imperfect.”

George Sarton

Preface.
A History of Science Vol.1 Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece (1952)

Beauty , Perfection