On the contrary, you find it beginning--as new scientific discoveries and inventions now begin--here a little and there a little, the same thing half-done in various half-ways, and so as no one who knew the best way would ever have begun.
Bagehot describes the fragmented nature of scientific progress and discovery.
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Thirdly, we see why so few nations have made rapid advance, and how many have become stationary.
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
They say, We reject your Bill for this once or these twice, or even these thrice: but if you keep on sending it up, at last we won't reject it.
No doubt this momentary gain is bought at a ruinous after-cost.
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