Франкенштейн

           Thelaboursofmenofgenius,howevererroneouslydirected,scarcelyeverfailinultimatelyturningtothesolidadvantageofmankind."Ilistenedtohisstatement,whichwasdeliveredwithoutanypresumptionoraffectation,andthenaddedthathislecturehadremovedmyprejudicesagainstmodernchemists;Iexpressedmyselfinmeasuredterms,withthemodestyanddeferenceduefromayouthtohisinstructor,withoutlettingescape(inexperienceinlifewouldhavemademeashamed)anyoftheenthusiasmwhichstimulatedmyintendedlabours.IrequestedhisadviceconcerningthebooksIoughttoprocure.

           "Iamhappy,"saidM.Waldman,"tohavegainedadisciple;andifyourapplicationequalsyourability,Ihavenodoubtofyoursuccess.Chemistryisthatbranchofnaturalphilosophyinwhichthegreatestimprovementshavebeenandmaybemade;itisonthataccountthatIhavemadeitmypeculiarstudy;butatthesametime,Ihavenotneglectedtheotherbranchesofscience.Amanwouldmakebutaverysorrychemistifheattendedtothatdepartmentofhumanknowledgealone.Ifyourwishistobecomereallyamanofscienceandnotmerelyapettyexperimentalist,Ishouldadviseyoutoapplytoeverybranchofnaturalphilosophy,includingmathematics."Hethentookmeintohislaboratoryandexplainedtometheusesofhisvariousmachines,instructingmeastowhatIoughttoprocureandpromisingmetheuseofhisownwhenIshouldhaveadvancedfarenoughinthesciencenottoderangetheirmechanism.HealsogavemethelistofbookswhichIhadrequested,andItookmyleave.

           Thusendedadaymemorabletome;itdecidedmyfuturedestiny.