Quote#Wisdom
I have also cleared the electromagnetic theory of light from all…
Quote byJames Clerk Maxwell · 1831–1879
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Letter to C. Hockin, Esq. (Sept 7, 1864) as quoted by Lewis Campbell, William Garnett, The Life of James Clerk Maxwell: With Selections from His Correspondence and Occasional Writings (1884).
English (original)
I have also cleared the electromagnetic theory of light from all unwarrantable assumption, so that we may safely determine the velocity of light by measuring the attraction between bodies kept at a given difference of potential, the value of which is known in electromagnetic measure.
— James Clerk Maxwell
More from James Clerk Maxwell
This velocity is so nearly that of light, that it seems we have strong reason to conclude that light itself
is an electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves propagated through the electromagnetic field according to electromagnetic laws.
the only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.
we can scarcely avoid the conclusion that light consists in the transverse undulations of the same medium which is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena
The mathematical difficulties of the theory of rotation arise chiefly from the want of geometrical illustrations and sensible images, by which we might fix the results of analysis in our minds.
I have also a paper afloat, with an electromagnetic theory of light, which, till I am convinced to the contrary, I hold to be great guns.