Natural and Experimental History

but open; everyone philosophizes from the cells of their own fancy, as if from Plato’s cave; the more sublime minds more acutely and happily; the slower ones with less success, but with equal obstinacy. Indeed, not long ago, by the discipline of certain learned men—and, as things now stand, excellent ones—the sciences (I believe due to the weariness of variety and license) were confined within certain described authors, and, being thus restrained, are imposed upon the elders,