Who said “The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.”?

Verified

Thomas H. Huxley. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourcePresidential Address at the British Association, "Biogenesis and abiogenesis" (1870); later published in Collected Essays, Vol. 8, p. 229

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“The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.”
— Thomas H. Huxley
VerifiedPresidential Address at the British Association, "Biogenesis and abiogenesis" (1870); later published in Collected Essays, Vol. 8, p. 229 · evidenceScience and Scientists

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Presidential Address at the British Association, "Biogenesis and abiogenesis" (1870); later published in Collected Essays, Vol. 8, p. 229.

APA

Huxley, T. H. (n.d.). The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36845-the-great-tragedy-of-science-the-slaying-of/

MLA

Huxley, Thomas H. “The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36845-the-great-tragedy-of-science-the-slaying-of/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Huxley, Thomas H. “The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36845-the-great-tragedy-of-science-the-slaying-of/.

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