How we cite our quotes: (chapter.paragraph)
Quote #4
I turned my reluctant steps from my father's door—led me first to M. Krempe, professor of natural philosophy. He was an uncouth man, but deeply imbued in the secrets of his science. (3.9)
Hm. Maybe this is our modern prejudice, but part of the point of science it that it's not supposed to be secret. You're supposed to share your ideas so people can (1) test and confirm them, and (2) build on them.
Quote #5
One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? It was a bold question, and one which has ever been considered as a mystery; yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries. (4.3)
We wonder what Victor would have said to putting men on the moon or trying to find the God particle? (That's a real thing, btw. Google "Higgs Boson.") Mysteries of one generation become the common sense of the next—as long as they're not kept secret, that is.
Quote #6
Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay? (4.9)
Well, we're starting to, thanks to Victor's alarming descriptions of "unhallowed damps" and "tortur[ing] the living animal." Just a thought: if you're ashamed to let anyone know what you're doing, you're probably doing it wrong.