In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bill Bryson discusses the challenges faced by the naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, who risked excommunication for his progressive ideas. Despite the potential consequences of his views, Buffon took a pragmatic approach by quickly apologizing for his heretical beliefs to avoid conflict.
However, Buffon did not shy away from sharing his thoughts. Instead, he continued to assert his views in later writings, maintaining a candid yet defiant stance regarding his scientific observations, even in the face of institutional pressure.