Page:Thoughts on art and life.djvu/210

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

No primary element has gravity or lightness in its own sphere.

81.

The motion made by bodies which possess gravity to the common centre is not produced by the tendency of the body to find this centre, nor is it caused by attraction made by the centre, as by a magnet, drawing the weight towards it.

82.

Why does not the weight remain in its place? It does not remain because it has no resistance. And whither will it tend? It will tend to the centre of the earth. And why not along other lines? Because the weight which meets with no resistance will descend by the shortest way to the lowest depth, and the lowest depth is the centre of the earth. And how does a weight find the centre of the earth with such directness? Because it does not proceed at random, wandering by diverse courses.

83.

Instrumental science, that is to say, mechanics, is the most noble and most useful of sciences, inchanical asmuch as by means of it all living bodies which Laws have movement act; and this movement has

174