Mathematical philosophy, a study of fate and freedom; lectures for educated laymen, by Cassius J. Keyser.

NON-EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRIES 348
of scientific theories ought to be given in his own words.
They are these:
On ne peut se flatter d'avoir le dernier mot d'une
théorie, tant qu'on ne peut pas l'expliquer en peu de
paroles à un passant dans la rue.
Can the dream come literally true? We are certain
that it cannot, for it is an ideal,-a genuine ideal,-and
genuine ideals can never be realized fully. Therein is
their precious value as lights and lures of the spiritthey are "ever flying perfects," not to be overtaken but
to be pursued by us, as they rise and soar and lead, forever.
The ideal of Gergonne is a democratic ideal. To
pursue it is, therefore, not merely our privilege; it is a
great and solemn duty. Democracy is on trial,-it is an
experiment,-the greatest experiment ever undertaken by
our humankind. Unless the community be pervaded with
ever-increasing scientific intelligence, that supreme experiment,-the sovereign hope of the world,-is doomed to
failure. Than that, nothing can be more evident to such
as reflect. The affairs of state must be rescued from the
hands of ignorant politicans and be committed to scientific management-to the guidance, that is, of honest
men who know. That, too, is as evident as anything can
become. How can the destiny of the state be committed
to the guidance of science if the men and women who
constitute the electorate know nothing of science, nothing
of its methods, nothing of its content, nothing of its
achievements, nothing of its spirit, nothing of its infinite
potency for human service? Election is selection. How
can the ignorant select the wise?
In view of such considerations, so obvious and so