# The Lunar Men ## Metadata * Author: [Jenny Uglow](https://www.amazon.comundefined) * ASIN: B004U4RXUW * Reference: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U4RXUW * [Kindle link](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW) ## Highlights Ten of these men became Fellows of the Royal Society but only a few had a university education and most were Nonconformists or freethinkers. This placed them outside the Establishment – an apparent disadvantage which proved a real strength, since they were unhampered by old traditions of deference and stuffy institutions. — location: [123](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=123) ^ref-21098 --- In two generations, roughly from 1730 to 1800, the country changed from a mainly agricultural nation into an emerging industrial force. By the time these friends died, iron and coal and cotton were king and the provinces no longer looked automatically to London to lead the way. — location: [170](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=170) ^ref-11705 --- In the time of the Lunar men science and art were not separated: you could be an inventor and designer, an experimenter and a poet, a dreamer and an entrepreneur all at once without anyone raising an eyebrow. — location: [195](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=195) ^ref-8349 --- A city of makers and traders, Birmingham almost seemed itself to be ‘in the making’, always looking forward. Many people claimed that part of the reason for its growth was its freedom from rules. — location: [605](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=605) ^ref-1700 --- ‘Freedom’ was built in to Birmingham’s self-image, and into Matthew Boulton’s. Its citizens boasted of its industry, its independence, its bustle and its power. — location: [612](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=612) ^ref-12990 --- Scottish Calvinism could inspire bigotry but it also encouraged a self-sufficient, questioning approach, and learning was seen as the key to progress. Scotland had five universities to England’s two, and was proud of its up-to-date, specialized courses. — location: [796](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=796) ^ref-24765 --- The rapid progress of knowledge, which like the progress of a wave of the sea, or of light from the sun, extends itself not in this way or that way only, but in all directions, will, I doubt not, be the means, under God, of extirpating all terror and prejudice, and of putting an end to all undue and usurped authority in the business of religion as well of science; and all the efforts of the interested friends of corrupt establishments of all kinds, will be ineffectual for their support in this enlightened age.25 — location: [1866](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B004U4RXUW&location=1866) ^ref-63831 ---