Hence no force, however great, can stretch a cord, however fine, into a horizontal line which is accurately straight: there will always be a bending downwards.

(1852) Lectures on the history of Moral Philosophy. He was Second Wrangler in 1816 President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1817 became fellow and tutor of his college and in 1841 succeeded Dr Christopher Wordsworth as master. (1857) Spedding's complete edition of the works of Bacon.

William Whewell FRS FGS (pron. : /ˈhjuːəl/ HEW-əl; 24 May 1794 – 6 March 1866) was an English polymath scientist Anglican priest philosopher theologian and historian of science. He was Master of Trinity College Cambridge.