8
In the Meantime in Groningen
We try in vain to describe a man’s character,
however, let his acts be collected
and an idea of his character will be presented to us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward (1921–1994)
8.1 Lectures
In Kapteyn’s time, even more than today, teaching was central to the work
of a professor. Research actually came in second place. This also applied to
Kapteyn, and he spent a significant part of his time on lectures and other
education. Kapteyn must have belonged to the last category of teachers from
William Ward’s quote above, as witnessed by the statements of his pupils and
students. Kapteyn paid tribute to his descent from a lineage of teachers.
William Ward was an American author.
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. C. van der Kruit, Pioneer of Galactic Astronomy: A Biography of Jacobus C. Kapteyn,
Springer Biographies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55423-1_8
149
In the Meantime in Groningen
We try in vain to describe a man’s character,
however, let his acts be collected
and an idea of his character will be presented to us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward (1921–1994)
8.1 Lectures
In Kapteyn’s time, even more than today, teaching was central to the work
of a professor. Research actually came in second place. This also applied to
Kapteyn, and he spent a significant part of his time on lectures and other
education. Kapteyn must have belonged to the last category of teachers from
William Ward’s quote above, as witnessed by the statements of his pupils and
students. Kapteyn paid tribute to his descent from a lineage of teachers.
William Ward was an American author.
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. C. van der Kruit, Pioneer of Galactic Astronomy: A Biography of Jacobus C. Kapteyn,
Springer Biographies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55423-1_8
149