Abstract
IT has only happened on one or two occasions that the subject of an article in our series of Scientific Worthies has had to be referred to in the past tense; and we deplore that such should be the case now. Many men of science continued to make important additions to the monument of natural knowledge long after contemporary contributors to this series had paid tribute to their achievements, and fortunately some are still with us. A testimony to good and faithful work has its interest vastly increased when it can be accompanied by the thought that past performances may be equalled, or even excelled, by future accomplishments. This satisfaction is denied us when Finis has to be written against a man's work; and though the coral-rock represented by it may be strong and beautiful, it lacks those qualities of activity and growth which were once manifest on its summit and are essential attributes of the scientific spirit.
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POINCARÉ, J. Scientific Worthies: XXXIX. Nature 90, 353–356 (1912). https://doi.org/10.1038/090353a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/090353a0