Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
One of the few privileges the public lecturer has is to divide all mankind into two classes according to his prejudices, and this I intend to do: on the one hand those restless souls who constantly strive for innovation and change; on the other the great mass of humanity who resist and even resent any disturbance of the even tenor of their ways.
The first fish-like beast that crawled out of the primeval swamp on to land must have had something of this spirit of change and adventure. And from the dawn of history the rare men with these characteristics have provided the leadership and sparked the changes that have been at the heart of human progress.