Joseph Banks Quotes (1743-1820)

“Banks was a student of natural history in its broadest sense, and when at sea he made observations concerning birds, marine animals of various kinds, belonging to lower or higher orders, while on land he discusses in a most interesting manner insects and animals, the appliances and habits of the natives, and so forth.”

“[General literacy would] teach [the poor] to despise their lot in life, instead of making them good servants in agriculture, and other laborious employment to which their rank in society has destined them;... it would enable them to read seditious pamphlets, vicious books, and publications against Christianity; it would render them insolent.”