I have always admired William Thompson, Lord Kelvin. I have recently found a whole web site devoted to his quotes. Many are relevant to metrication. Here is one of the best:
"You, in this country [Great Britain], are subjected to the British insularity in weights and measures; you use the foot, inch and yard. I am obliged to use that system, but must apologize to you for doing so, because it is so inconvenient, and I hope Americans will do everything in their power to introduce the French metrical system. ... I look upon our English system as a wickedly, brain-destroying system of bondage under which we suffer. The reason why we continue to use it, is the imaginary difficulty of making a change, and nothing else; but I do not think in America that any such difficulty should stand in the way of adopting so splendidly useful a reform."
Regards,
Bill Hooper
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
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Make It Simple; Make It Metric!
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Dear Bill,
I used that quote in 'Metrication matters 13' without 'Great Britain' in square brackets because, as I understood it, William Thompson was speaking to an audience in Philadelphia (1884 September 29) See: http://www.metricationmatters.com/mm-newsletter-2004-06.html
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216
Geelong, Australia
61 3 5241 2008
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.metricationmatters.com
