Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage KH FRSwas an English polymath. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage, along with Ada Lovelace, is best remembered for originating the concept of a programmable computer...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth26 December 1791
ambition mean writing
I have no desire to write my own biography, as long as I have strength and means to do better work.
knowing vision defects
An object is frequently not seen, from not knowing how to see it, rather than from any defect of the organ of vision.
born dies minute
Every minute dies a man, And one and one-sixteenth is born
directed effort englishman however mind observe principle propose
Propose to any Englishman any principle or instrument, however admirable, and you will observe that the whole effort of the English mind is directed to find a difficulty, a defect, or an impossibility in it.
consists effect english-mathematician large machinery presenting
Another contrivance for regulating the effect of machinery consists in a vane or fly, of little weight, but presenting a large surface.
education english-mathematician portion science suppose system therefore
It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that some portion of the neglect of science in England, may be attributed to the system of education we pursue.
commodity consume english-mathematician government judges merit profit
The public, who consume the new commodity or profit by the new invention, are much better judges of its merit than the government can be.
next economy machinery
The economy of human time is the next advantage of machinery in manufactures.
failure mathematical-logic data
Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all.
science analysis development
The whole of the developments and operations of analysis are now capable of being executed by machinery ... As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of science.
military moving men
The proportion between the velocity with which men or animals move, and the weights they carry, is a matter of considerable importance, particularly in military affairs.
ideas two confusion
On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
tools increase wells
At each increase of knowledge, as well as on the contrivance of every new tool, human labour becomes abridged.
thinking criticism may
There are few circumstances which so strongly distinguish the philosopher, as the calmness with which he can reply to criticisms he may think undeservedly severe.