“Skepticism is like a microscope whose magnification is constantly increased: the sharp image that one begins with finally dissolves, because it is not possible to see ultimate things: their existence is only to be inferred.”

— Stanisław Lem, book His Master's Voice

Source: His Master's Voice (1968), Ch. 17

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Stanisław Lem74

Polish science fiction author 1921–2006

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“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”

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General sources
Context: “My dear,
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“A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones.”

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English mystery novelist and Christian apologist

Though sometimes misattributed to Chesterton, this is generally attributed to Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, with the first publication of this yet located is in a section of proverbs called "Diamond Dust" in Eliza Cook's Journal, No. 98 (15 March 1851), with the first attribution to Chesterfield as yet located in: Many Thoughts of Many Minds (1862) edited by Henry Southgate.
Misattributed

“A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones.”

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) British statesman and man of letters

Generally attributed to Lord Chesterfield, the first publication of this yet located is in a section of proverbs called "Diamond Dust" in Eliza Cook's Journal, No. 98 (15 March 1851), with the first attribution to Chesterfield as yet located in: Many Thoughts of Many Minds (1862) edited by Henry Southgate
Disputed

“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were and ask "why not?"”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

Speech delivered to the Dail (Parliament of Ireland) (28 June 1963)
1963

“No one likes to be watched constantly by someone he can’t see.”

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“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only—and that is to support the ultimate career.”

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) Christian apologist, novelist, and Medievalist

Paraphrased from a letter C. S. Lewis wrote to Mrs. Johnson on March 16, 1955: "A housewife's work [is] surely, in reality, the most important work in the world ... your job is the one for which all others exist", as reported in The Misquotable C.S. Lewis (2018) by William O'Flaherty, p. 63
Misattributed

“Skepticism is like a microscope whose magnification is constantly increased: the sharp image that one begins with finally dissolves, because it is not possible to see ultimate things: their existence is only to be inferred.”

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Stanisław Lem74

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