TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY ®  •  TODAYINSCI ®
Celebrating 24 Years on the Web
Find science on or your birthday

Today in Science History - Quickie Quiz
Who said: “Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by forces impressed.”
more quiz questions >>
Home > Category Index for Science Quotations > Category Index T > Category: Technical

Technical Quotes (53 quotes)

[E.H.] Moore was presenting a paper on a highly technical topic to a large gathering of faculty and graduate students from all parts of the country. When half way through he discovered what seemed to be an error (though probably no one else in the room observed it). He stopped and re-examined the doubtful step for several minutes and then, convinced of the error, he abruptly dismissed the meeting—to the astonishment of most of the audience. It was an evidence of intellectual courage as well as honesty and doubtless won for him the supreme admiration of every person in the group—an admiration which was in no wise diminished, but rather increased, when at a later meeting he announced that after all he had been able to prove the step to be correct.
In Obituary, 'Eliakim Hastings Moore', The American Mathematical Monthly (Apr 1933), 40, 191.
Science quotes on:  |  Admiration (61)  |  Announce (13)  |  Astonishment (30)  |  Audience (28)  |  Convinced (23)  |  Correct (95)  |  Country (269)  |  Courage (82)  |  Diminish (17)  |  Discover (571)  |  Dismiss (12)  |  Doubtful (30)  |  Doubtless (8)  |  Error (339)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Examine (84)  |  Faculty (76)  |  Gathering (23)  |  Graduate (32)  |  Graduate Student (13)  |  Honesty (29)  |  Increase (225)  |  Intellectual (258)  |  Large (398)  |  Meeting (22)  |  Minute (129)  |   Eliakim Hastings Moore (2)  |  Most (1728)  |  Observed (149)  |  Paper (192)  |  Person (366)  |  Present (630)  |  Prove (261)  |  Step (234)  |  Stop (89)  |  Student (317)  |  Supreme (73)  |  Through (846)  |  Topic (23)  |  Way (1214)  |  Wise (143)

[Technical courage means the] physician-scientist must be brave enough to adopt new methods. It is far too easy to learn one technique and then to repeat the same experiment over and over. In this fashion one can write many papers, receive large research grants, and remain solidly rooted in the middle of a scientific field. But the true innovator has the confidence to drop one set of experimental crutches and leap to another when he or she must move forward.
In Banquet Speech, 'The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1985', on website nobelprize.org. Published in Les Prix Nobel, 1985: Nobel Prizes, Presentations, Biographies and Lectures (1986).
Science quotes on:  |  Adopt (22)  |  Brave (16)  |  Confidence (75)  |  Courage (82)  |  Drop (77)  |  Easy (213)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Experimental (193)  |  Fashion (34)  |  Forward (104)  |  Grant (76)  |  Innovator (3)  |  Large (398)  |  Leap (57)  |  Learn (672)  |  Method (531)  |  Move (223)  |  New (1273)  |  Paper (192)  |  Physician (284)  |  Receive (117)  |  Remain (355)  |  Repeat (44)  |  Research (753)  |  Same (166)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Set (400)  |  Technique (84)  |  True (239)  |  Write (250)

[Theodore Roosevelt] was a naturalist on the broadest grounds, uniting much technical knowledge with knowledge of the daily lives and habits of all forms of wild life. He probably knew tenfold more natural history than all the presidents who had preceded him, and, I think one is safe in saying, more human history also.
In 'Theodore Roosevelt', Natural History (Jan 1919), 19, No.1, 5.
Science quotes on:  |  Daily (91)  |  Form (976)  |  Ground (222)  |  Habit (174)  |  History (716)  |  Human (1512)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Life (1870)  |  Live (650)  |  More (2558)  |  Natural (810)  |  Natural History (77)  |  Naturalist (79)  |  President (36)  |  Theodore Roosevelt (41)  |  Safe (61)  |  Think (1122)  |  Wild (96)  |  Wildlife (16)

[Vikram Sarabhai] always gave new technical knowledge to the engineers and at that moment his face was lit with joy.
As given in narrative form by Mahesh Sharma, P. Bhalla and P.K. Das, in 'Prof. Vikram Sarabhai in the Opinion of Dr. Kalam', Pride Of The Nation: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2004), 46.
Science quotes on:  |  Engineer (136)  |  Joy (117)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  New (1273)  |  Vikram Sarabhai (8)

[Werhner von Braun] is a human leader whose eyes and thoughts have always been turned toward the stars. It would be foolish to assign rocketry success to one person totally. Components must necessarily be the work of many minds; so must successive stages of development. But because Wernher von Braun joins technical ability, passionate optimism, immense experience and uncanny organizing ability in the elusive power to create a team, he is the greatest human element behind today’s rocketry success
Quoted in 'Reach For The Stars', Time (17 Feb 1958), 71, 25.
Science quotes on:  |  Ability (162)  |  Behind (139)  |  Wernher von Braun (29)  |  Component (51)  |  Create (245)  |  Development (441)  |  Element (322)  |  Elusive (8)  |  Experience (494)  |  Eye (440)  |  Foolish (41)  |  Greatest (330)  |  Human (1512)  |  Immense (89)  |  Leader (51)  |  Mind (1377)  |  Must (1525)  |  Necessarily (137)  |  Optimism (17)  |  Organize (33)  |  Passionate (22)  |  Person (366)  |  Power (771)  |  Rocket (52)  |  Stage (152)  |  Star (460)  |  Stars (304)  |  Success (327)  |  Successive (73)  |  Team (17)  |  Thought (995)  |  Today (321)  |  Turn (454)  |  Uncanny (5)  |  Work (1402)

A mathematical argument is, after all, only organized common sense, and it is well that men of science should not always expound their work to the few behind a veil of technical language, but should from time to time explain to a larger public the reasoning which lies behind their mathematical notation.
In The Tides and Kindred Phenomena in the Solar System: The Substance of Lectures Delivered in 1897 at the Lowell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts (1898), Preface, v. Preface
Science quotes on:  |  Argument (145)  |  Behind (139)  |  Common (447)  |  Common Sense (136)  |  Explain (334)  |  Language (308)  |  Lie (370)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Men Of Science (147)  |  Notation (28)  |  Organized (9)  |  Reasoning (212)  |  Sense (785)  |  Time (1911)  |  Veil (27)  |  Work (1402)

A modern mathematical proof is not very different from a modern machine, or a modern test setup: the simple fundamental principles are hidden and almost invisible under a mass of technical details.
Unterrichtsblätter für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften (1932), 38, 177-188. As translated by Abe Shenitzer, in 'Part I. Topology and Abstract Algebra as Two Roads of Mathematical Comprehension', The American Mathematical Monthly (May 1995), 102, No. 7, 453.
Science quotes on:  |  Detail (150)  |  Different (595)  |  Fundamental (264)  |  Hidden (43)  |  Invisible (66)  |  Machine (271)  |  Mass (160)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Modern (402)  |  Principle (530)  |  Proof (304)  |  Simple (426)  |  Test (221)

A troubling question for those of us committed to the widest application of intelligence in the study and solution of the problems of men is whether a general understanding of the social sciences will be possible much longer. Many significant areas of these disciplines have already been removed by the advances of the past two decades beyond the reach of anyone who does not know mathematics; and the man of letters is increasingly finding, to his dismay, that the study of mankind proper is passing from his hands to those of technicians and specialists. The aesthetic effect is admittedly bad: we have given up the belletristic “essay on man” for the barbarisms of a technical vocabulary, or at best the forbidding elegance of mathematical syntax.
Opening paragraph of 'The Study of Man: Sociology Learns the Language of Mathematics' in Commentary (1 Sep 1952). Reprinted in James Roy Newman, The World of Mathematics (1956), Vol. 2, 1294.
Science quotes on:  |  Advance (298)  |  Aesthetic (48)  |  Already (226)  |  Application (257)  |  Bad (185)  |  Barbarism (8)  |  Best (467)  |  Beyond (316)  |  Decade (66)  |  Discipline (85)  |  Dismay (5)  |  Effect (414)  |  Elegance (40)  |  Essay (27)  |  General (521)  |  Intelligence (218)  |  Know (1538)  |  Letter (117)  |  Man (2252)  |  Man Of Letters (6)  |  Mankind (356)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Passing (76)  |  Past (355)  |  Possible (560)  |  Problem (731)  |  Proper (150)  |  Question (649)  |  Reach (286)  |  Remove (50)  |  Significant (78)  |  Social (261)  |  Social Science (37)  |  Solution (282)  |  Specialist (33)  |  Study (701)  |  Syntax (2)  |  Technician (9)  |  Two (936)  |  Understand (648)  |  Understanding (527)  |  Vocabulary (10)  |  Will (2350)

After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.
Remark (1923) as recalled in Archibald Henderson, Durham Morning Herald (21 Aug 1955) in Einstein Archive 33-257. Quoted in Alice Calaprice, The Quotable Einstein (1996), 171.
Science quotes on:  |  Achieve (75)  |  Aesthetics (12)  |  Art (680)  |  Artist (97)  |  Certain (557)  |  Coalesce (5)  |  Form (976)  |  Great (1610)  |  Greatest (330)  |  High (370)  |  Level (69)  |  Plasticity (7)  |  Science And Art (195)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Skill (116)  |  Tend (124)

But when great and ingenious artists behold their so inept performances, not undeservedly do they ridicule the blindness of such men; since sane judgment abhors nothing so much as a picture perpetrated with no technical knowledge, although with plenty of care and diligence. Now the sole reason why painters of this sort are not aware of their own error is that they have not learnt Geometry, without which no one can either be or become an absolute artist; but the blame for this should be laid upon their masters, who are themselves ignorant of this art.
In The Art of Measurement (1525). As quoted in Albrecht Dürer and R.T. Nichol (trans.), 'Preface', Of the Just Shaping of Letters (1965), Book 3, 1-2.
Science quotes on:  |  Abhor (8)  |  Absolute (153)  |  Art (680)  |  Artist (97)  |  Aware (36)  |  Become (821)  |  Blame (31)  |  Blindness (11)  |  Care (203)  |  Diligence (22)  |  Do (1905)  |  Error (339)  |  Geometry (271)  |  Great (1610)  |  Ignorant (91)  |  Inept (4)  |  Ingenious (55)  |  Judgment (140)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Learn (672)  |  Master (182)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Painter (30)  |  Performance (51)  |  Perpetrate (3)  |  Picture (148)  |  Reason (766)  |  Ridicule (23)  |  Sole (50)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Undeserved (3)  |  Why (491)

Education is like a diamond with many facets: It includes the basic mastery of numbers and letters that give us access to the treasury of human knowledge, accumulated and refined through the ages; it includes technical and vocational training as well as instruction in science, higher mathematics, and humane letters.
In Proclamation 5463, for Education Day (19 Apr 1986). Collected in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1986 (1988), 490.
Science quotes on:  |  Access (21)  |  Accumulation (51)  |  Age (509)  |  Basic (144)  |  Diamond (21)  |  Education (423)  |  Facet (9)  |  Human (1512)  |  Humane (19)  |  Humanities (21)  |  Include (93)  |  Instruction (101)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Letter (117)  |  Mastery (36)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Number (710)  |  Refinement (19)  |  Through (846)  |  Training (92)  |  Treasury (3)

Encryption...is a powerful defensive weapon for free people. It offers a technical guarantee of privacy, regardless of who is running the government... It’s hard to think of a more powerful, less dangerous tool for liberty.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Dangerous (108)  |  Defensive (2)  |  Free (239)  |  Government (116)  |  Guarantee (30)  |  Hard (246)  |  Less (105)  |  Liberty (29)  |  More (2558)  |  Offer (142)  |  People (1031)  |  Powerful (145)  |  Privacy (7)  |  Regardless (8)  |  Run (158)  |  Running (61)  |  Think (1122)  |  Tool (129)  |  Weapon (98)

Engineers apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to practical technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and commercial applications. Engineers design products, the machinery to build those products, the factories in which those products are made, and the systems that ensure the quality of the product and efficiency of the workforce and manufacturing process. They design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings, highways, and transit systems. They develop and implement improved ways to extract, process, and use raw materials, such as petroleum and natural gas. They develop new materials that both improve the performance of products, and make implementing advances in technology possible. They harness the power of the sun, the earth, atoms, and electricity for use in supplying the Nation’s power needs, and create millions of products using power. Their knowledge is applied to improving many things, including the quality of health care, the safety of food products, and the efficient operation of financial systems.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2000) as quoted in Charles R. Lord. Guide to Information Sources in Engineering (2000), 5. This definition has been revised and expanded over time in different issues of the Handbook.
Science quotes on:  |  Advance (298)  |  Application (257)  |  Applied (176)  |  Apply (170)  |  Atom (381)  |  Both (496)  |  Build (211)  |  Building (158)  |  Care (203)  |  Commercial (28)  |  Construction (114)  |  Create (245)  |  Design (203)  |  Develop (278)  |  Discovery (837)  |  Earth (1076)  |  Economical (11)  |  Efficiency (46)  |  Efficient (34)  |  Electricity (168)  |  Engineer (136)  |  Ensure (27)  |  Extract (40)  |  Factory (20)  |  Finance (4)  |  Food (213)  |  Gas (89)  |  Harness (25)  |  Health (210)  |  Health Care (10)  |  Highway (15)  |  Implement (13)  |  Improvement (117)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Machinery (59)  |  Manufacturing (29)  |  Material (366)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Million (124)  |  Nation (208)  |  Natural (810)  |  Natural Gas (2)  |  Need (320)  |  New (1273)  |  Operation (221)  |  Performance (51)  |  Petroleum (8)  |  Plan (122)  |  Possible (560)  |  Power (771)  |  Practical (225)  |  Principle (530)  |  Problem (731)  |  Process (439)  |  Product (166)  |  Quality (139)  |  Raw (28)  |  Research (753)  |  Safety (58)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Solution (282)  |  Solution. (53)  |  Sun (407)  |  Supervise (2)  |  System (545)  |  Technology (281)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Thing (1914)  |  Transit (2)  |  Use (771)  |  Using (6)  |  Way (1214)  |  Work (1402)

His “Mathematical Games” column in Scientific American is one of the few bridges over C.P. Snow’s famous “gulf of mutual incomprehension’' that lies between technical and literary cultures.
In 'Martin Gardner: A “Documentary”', collected in Elwyn Berlekamp and Tom Rodgers (eds.), The Mathematician and the Pied Puzzler: A Collection in Tribute to Martin Gardner (1999), 9.
Science quotes on:  |  Bridge (49)  |  Column (15)  |  Culture (157)  |  Famous (12)  |  Game (104)  |  Gulf (18)  |  Incomprehension (3)  |  Lie (370)  |  Literary (15)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mutual (54)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientific American (2)  |  Snow (39)  |  Baron C.P. Snow (21)

Humanities are inseparable from human creations, whether these be philosophic, scientific, technical, or artistic and literary. They exist in everything to which men have imparted their virtues or vices, their joys or sufferings. There are blood and tears in geometry as well as in art, blood and tears but also innumerable joys, the purest that men can experience themselves or share with others.
In A History of Science: Hellenistic Science and Culture in the Last Three Centuries B.C. (1959), ix.
Science quotes on:  |  Art (680)  |  Artistic (24)  |  Blood (144)  |  Creation (350)  |  Everything (489)  |  Existence (481)  |  Experience (494)  |  Geometry (271)  |  Human (1512)  |  Humanities (21)  |  Impart (24)  |  Inseparable (18)  |  Joy (117)  |  Literary (15)  |  Philosophy (409)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Share (82)  |  Sufferings (2)  |  Tear (48)  |  Vice (42)  |  Virtue (117)

I ask myself whether the huge national commitment of technical talent to human spaceflight and the ever-present potential for the loss of precious human life are really justifiable.
In 'Is Human Spaceflight Obsolete?', Issues in Science and Technology (Summer 2004). [Note: published one year after the loss of seven lives in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. —Webmaster]
Science quotes on:  |  Ask (420)  |  Commitment (28)  |  Human (1512)  |  Human Life (32)  |  Justify (26)  |  Life (1870)  |  Loss (117)  |  Myself (211)  |  National (29)  |  Potential (75)  |  Precious (43)  |  Present (630)  |  Space Flight (26)  |  Talent (99)

I believe in the not-too-distant future, people are going to learn to trust their information to the Net more than they now do, and be able to essentially manage very large amounts and perhaps their whole lifetime of information in the Net with the notion that they can access it securely and privately for as long as they want, and that it will persist over all the evolution and technical changes.
From transcript of interview by Steve Inskeep, 'Computing Pioneers Discuss the State of the Net', Morning Edition (22 Aug 2005) on npr.org website.
Science quotes on:  |  Change (639)  |  Evolution (635)  |  Future (467)  |  Information (173)  |  Internet (24)  |  Learn (672)  |  Lifetime (40)  |  Manage (26)  |  Persist (13)  |  Private (29)  |  Secure (23)  |  Trust (72)

I consider it extremely doubtful whether the happiness of the human race has been enhanced by the technical and industrial developments that followed in the wake of rapidly progressing natural science.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Consider (428)  |  Development (441)  |  Doubtful (30)  |  Enhance (17)  |  Extremely (17)  |  Follow (389)  |  Happiness (126)  |  Human (1512)  |  Human Race (104)  |  Industrial Development (4)  |  Natural (810)  |  Natural Science (133)  |  Progress (492)  |  Race (278)  |  Rapidly (67)  |  Wake (17)

I had a Meccano set with which I “played” endlessly. Meccano which was invented by Frank Hornby around 1900, is called Erector Set in the US. New toys (mainly Lego) have led to the extinction of Meccano and this has been a major disaster as far as the education of our young engineers and scientists is concerned. Lego is a technically trivial plaything and kids love it partly because it is so simple and partly because it is seductively coloured. However it is only a toy, whereas Meccano is a real engineering kit and it teaches one skill which I consider to be the most important that anyone can acquire: This is the sensitive touch needed to thread a nut on a bolt and tighten them with a screwdriver and spanner just enough that they stay locked, but not so tightly that the thread is stripped or they cannot be unscrewed. On those occasions (usually during a party at your house) when the handbasin tap is closed so tightly that you cannot turn it back on, you know the last person to use the washroom never had a Meccano set.
Nobel laureate autobiography in Les Prix Nobel/Nobel Lectures 1996 (1997), 189.
Science quotes on:  |  Acquire (46)  |  Back (395)  |  Bolt (11)  |  Call (781)  |  Closed (38)  |  Color (155)  |  Concern (239)  |  Consider (428)  |  Disaster (58)  |  Education (423)  |  Engineer (136)  |  Engineering (188)  |  Enough (341)  |  Extinction (80)  |  House (143)  |  Important (229)  |  Invention (400)  |  Kid (18)  |  Kit (2)  |  Know (1538)  |  Last (425)  |  Lock (14)  |  Love (328)  |  Major (88)  |  Meccano (5)  |  Most (1728)  |  Need (320)  |  Never (1089)  |  New (1273)  |  Nut (7)  |  Occasion (87)  |  Party (19)  |  Person (366)  |  Play (116)  |  Plaything (3)  |  Real (159)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Screwdriver (2)  |  Seduction (3)  |  Sensitive (15)  |  Set (400)  |  Simple (426)  |  Simplicity (175)  |  Skill (116)  |  Spanner (2)  |  Strip (7)  |  Tap (10)  |  Teach (299)  |  Thread (36)  |  Tight (4)  |  Touch (146)  |  Toy (22)  |  Trivial (59)  |  Turn (454)  |  Use (771)  |  Usually (176)  |  Young (253)

I like to look at mathematics almost more as an art than as a science; for the activity of the mathematician, constantly creating as he is, guided though not controlled by the external world of the senses, bears a resemblance, not fanciful I believe but real, to the activity of an artist, of a painter let us say. Rigorous deductive reasoning on the part of the mathematician may be likened here to technical skill in drawing on the part of the painter. Just as no one can become a good painter without a certain amount of skill, so no one can become a mathematician without the power to reason accurately up to a certain point. Yet these qualities, fundamental though they are, do not make a painter or mathematician worthy of the name, nor indeed are they the most important factors in the case. Other qualities of a far more subtle sort, chief among which in both cases is imagination, go to the making of a good artist or good mathematician.
From 'Fundamental Conceptions and Methods in Mathematics', Bulletin American Mathematical Society (1904), 9, 133. As cited in Robert Édouard Moritz, Memorabilia Mathematica; Or, The Philomath’s Quotation-Book (1914), 182.
Science quotes on:  |  Activity (218)  |  Amount (153)  |  Art (680)  |  Artist (97)  |  Bear (162)  |  Become (821)  |  Both (496)  |  Certain (557)  |  Chief (99)  |  Control (182)  |  Create (245)  |  Deductive (13)  |  Do (1905)  |  Drawing (56)  |  External (62)  |  Factor (47)  |  Fundamental (264)  |  Good (906)  |  Guide (107)  |  Imagination (349)  |  Important (229)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Look (584)  |  Making (300)  |  Mathematician (407)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mathematics As A Fine Art (23)  |  More (2558)  |  Most (1728)  |  Name (359)  |  Other (2233)  |  Painter (30)  |  Point (584)  |  Power (771)  |  Reason (766)  |  Reasoning (212)  |  Resemblance (39)  |  Rigorous (50)  |  Say (989)  |  Sense (785)  |  Skill (116)  |  Subtle (37)  |  World (1850)  |  Worth (172)

In the secondary schools mathematics should be a part of general culture and not contributory to technical training of any kind; it should cultivate space intuition, logical thinking, the power to rephrase in clear language thoughts recognized as correct, and ethical and esthetic effects; so treated, mathematics is a quite indispensable factor of general education in so far as the latter shows its traces in the comprehension of the development of civilization and the ability to participate in the further tasks of civilization.
The purposes of instruction in mathematics in secondary schools formulated by the German Society for the Advancement of Instruction. From Unterrichtsblätter fur Mathematik und Naturwissenschaft (1904), 128. As translated in Robert Édouard Moritz, Memorabilia Mathematica; Or, The Philomath’s Quotation-Book (1914), 72-73.
Science quotes on:  |  Ability (162)  |  Aesthetic (48)  |  Civilization (220)  |  Clear (111)  |  Comprehension (69)  |  Correct (95)  |  Cultivate (24)  |  Culture (157)  |  Development (441)  |  Education (423)  |  Effect (414)  |  Ethical (34)  |  Factor (47)  |  General (521)  |  Indispensable (31)  |  Intuition (82)  |  Kind (564)  |  Language (308)  |  Logical (57)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Part (235)  |  Participate (10)  |  Power (771)  |  Recognize (136)  |  Rephrase (2)  |  School (227)  |  Secondary School (4)  |  Show (353)  |  Space (523)  |  Task (152)  |  Teaching of Mathematics (39)  |  Think (1122)  |  Thinking (425)  |  Thought (995)  |  Trace (109)  |  Training (92)  |  Treat (38)

Is pure science to be regarded as overall beneficial to society? Answer: It depends much on what you consider benefits. If you look at health, long life, transportation, communication, education, you might be tempted to say yes. If you look at the enormous social-economic dislocations, at the prospect of an immense famine in India, brought on by the advances of public health science and nutrition science, at strains on our psyches due to the imbalance between technical developments and our limited ability to adjust to the pace of change, you might be tempted to say no. Clearly, the present state of the world—to which science has contributed much—leaves a great deal to be desired, and much to be feared. So I write down … SCIENCE BENEFICIAL? DOUBTFUL.
In 'Homo Scientificus According to Beckett," collected in William Beranek, Jr. (ed.)Science, Scientists, and Society, (1972), 135. Excerpted in Ann E. Kammer, Science, Sex, and Society (1979), 276.
Science quotes on:  |  Ability (162)  |  Adjust (11)  |  Advance (298)  |  Answer (389)  |  Benefit (123)  |  Change (639)  |  Communication (101)  |  Consider (428)  |  Contribute (30)  |  Depend (238)  |  Development (441)  |  Dislocation (4)  |  Doubtful (30)  |  Education (423)  |  Enormous (44)  |  Famine (18)  |  Fear (212)  |  Health (210)  |  Imbalance (3)  |  Immense (89)  |  India (23)  |  Leave (138)  |  Life (1870)  |  Limit (294)  |  Nutrition (25)  |  Overall (10)  |  Pace (18)  |  Present (630)  |  Prospect (31)  |  Public Health (12)  |  Pure Science (30)  |  Society (350)  |  State (505)  |  Strain (13)  |  Transportation (19)  |  World (1850)  |  Write (250)

Men are only so good as their technical developments allows them to be.
Inside the Whale and Other Essays, "Charles Dickens," (1940).
Science quotes on:  |  Allow (51)  |  Development (441)  |  Good (906)

Money. It has such an inherent power to run itself clear of taint that human ingenuity cannot devise the means of making it work permanent mischief, any more than means can be found of torturing people beyond what they can bear. Even if a man founds a College of Technical Instruction, the chances are ten to one that no one will be taught anything and that it will have been practically left to a number of excellent professors who will know very well what to do with it.
Samuel Butler, Henry Festing Jones (ed.), The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1917), 221.
Science quotes on:  |  Bear (162)  |  Beyond (316)  |  Chance (244)  |  Clear (111)  |  College (71)  |  Devise (16)  |  Do (1905)  |  Excellent (29)  |  Found (11)  |  Human (1512)  |  Ingenuity (42)  |  Inherent (43)  |  Instruction (101)  |  Know (1538)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Making (300)  |  Man (2252)  |  Mean (810)  |  Means (587)  |  Mischief (13)  |  Money (178)  |  More (2558)  |  Number (710)  |  People (1031)  |  Permanent (67)  |  Power (771)  |  Professor (133)  |  Run (158)  |  Taint (10)  |  Teaching (190)  |  Torture (30)  |  Will (2350)  |  Work (1402)

My “"thinking”" time was devoted mainly to activities that were essentially clerical or mechanical: searching, calculating, plotting, transforming, determining the logical or dynamic consequences of a set of assumptions or hypotheses, preparing the way for a decision or an insight. Moreover ... the operations that fill most of the time allegedly devoted to technical thinking are operations that can be performed more effectively by machines than by men.
From article 'Man-Computer Symbiosis', in IRE Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics (Mar 1960), Vol. HFE-1, 4-11.
Science quotes on:  |  Activity (218)  |  Assumption (96)  |  Calculate (58)  |  Clerical (2)  |  Consequence (220)  |  Decision (98)  |  Determining (2)  |  Devoted (59)  |  Dynamic (16)  |  Hypothesis (314)  |  Insight (107)  |  Logical (57)  |  Machine (271)  |  Mechanical (145)  |  More (2558)  |  Most (1728)  |  Operation (221)  |  Operations (107)  |  Perform (123)  |  Plotting (2)  |  Preparing (21)  |  Searching (7)  |  Set (400)  |  Thinking (425)  |  Time (1911)  |  Transforming (4)  |  Way (1214)

Not long ago the head of what should be a strictly scientific department in one of the major universities commented on the odd (and ominous) phenomenon that persons who can claim to be scientists on the basis of the technical training that won them the degree of Ph.D. are now found certifying the authenticity of the painted rag that is called the “Turin Shroud” or adducing “scientific” arguments to support hoaxes about the “paranormal” or an antiquated religiosity. “You can hire a scientist [sic],” he said, “to prove anything.” He did not adduce himself as proof of his generalization, but he did boast of his cleverness in confining his own research to areas in which the results would not perturb the Establishment or any vociferous gang of shyster-led fanatics. If such is indeed the status of science and scholarship in our darkling age, Send not to ask for whom the bell tolls.
In 'The Price of the Head', Instauration Magazine (Mar 1980).
Science quotes on:  |  Age (509)  |  Antiquated (3)  |  Area (33)  |  Argument (145)  |  Ask (420)  |  Authenticity (5)  |  Basis (180)  |  Bell (35)  |  Boast (22)  |  Call (781)  |  Certify (2)  |  Claim (154)  |  Cleverness (15)  |  Comment (12)  |  Confine (26)  |  Degree (277)  |  Department (93)  |  Establishment (47)  |  Fanatic (7)  |  Find (1014)  |  Gang (4)  |  Generalization (61)  |  Head (87)  |  Himself (461)  |  Hire (7)  |  Hoax (6)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Long (778)  |  Long Ago (12)  |  Major (88)  |  Odd (15)  |  Ominous (5)  |  Paint (22)  |  Paranormal (3)  |  Person (366)  |  Perturb (2)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Proof (304)  |  Prove (261)  |  Prove Anything (7)  |  Rag (2)  |  Religiosity (2)  |  Research (753)  |  Result (700)  |  Say (989)  |  Scholarship (22)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Send (23)  |  Shroud (2)  |  Status (35)  |  Strictly (13)  |  Support (151)  |  Toll (3)  |  Training (92)  |  Turin (3)  |  University (130)  |  Win (53)

Our time is distinguished by wonderful achievements in the fields of scientific understanding and the technical application of those insights. Who would not be cheered by this? But let us not forget that human knowledge and skills alone cannot lead humanity to a happy and dignified life. Humanity has every reason to place the proclaimers of high moral standards and values above the discoverers of objective truth. What humanity owes to personalities like Buddha, Moses, and Jesus ranks for me higher than all the achievements of the inquiring constructive mind.
(Sep 1937). In Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman (eds.), Albert Einstein, the Human Side (1979), 70. The editors state that except being unrelated to “a ‘Preaching Mission’, nothing of any consequence is known of the circumstances that prompted its composition.”
Science quotes on:  |  Achievement (187)  |  Alone (324)  |  Application (257)  |  Cheer (7)  |  Constructive (15)  |  Dignified (13)  |  Discoverer (43)  |  Distinguish (168)  |  Distinguished (84)  |  Field (378)  |  Forget (125)  |  Happy (108)  |  High (370)  |  Human (1512)  |  Humanity (186)  |  Insight (107)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Lead (391)  |  Let (64)  |  Life (1870)  |  Mind (1377)  |  Moral (203)  |  Objective (96)  |  Owe (71)  |  Place (192)  |  Rank (69)  |  Reason (766)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Skill (116)  |  Standard (64)  |  Time (1911)  |  Truth (1109)  |  Understand (648)  |  Understanding (527)  |  Value (393)  |  Wonderful (155)

Philosophers no longer write for the intelligent, only for their fellow professionals. The few thousand academic philosophers in the world do not stint themselves: they maintain more than seventy learned journals. But in the handful that cover more than one subdivision of philosophy, any given philosopher can hardly follow more than one or two articles in each issue. This hermetic condition is attributed to “technical problems” in the subject. Since William James, Russell, and Whitehead, philosophy, like history, has been confiscated by scholarship and locked away from the contamination of general use.
In The Culture We Deserve (1989), 9.
Science quotes on:  |  Academic (20)  |  Article (22)  |  Attribute (65)  |  Condition (362)  |  Contamination (4)  |  Cover (40)  |  Do (1905)  |  Fellow (88)  |  Follow (389)  |  General (521)  |  Give (208)  |  Handful (14)  |  Hardly (19)  |  Hermetic (2)  |  History (716)  |  Intelligent (108)  |  Issue (46)  |  William James (50)  |  Journal (31)  |  Learn (672)  |  Learned (235)  |  Lock (14)  |  Long (778)  |  Maintain (105)  |  More (2558)  |  Philosopher (269)  |  Philosophy (409)  |  Problem (731)  |  Professional (77)  |  Scholarship (22)  |  Seventy (2)  |  Subdivision (2)  |  Subject (543)  |  Themselves (433)  |  Thousand (340)  |  Two (936)  |  Use (771)  |  Alfred North Whitehead (140)  |  World (1850)  |  Write (250)

Quite distinct from the theoretical question of the manner in which mathematics will rescue itself from the perils to which it is exposed by its own prolific nature is the practical problem of finding means of rendering available for the student the results which have been already accumulated, and making it possible for the learner to obtain some idea of the present state of the various departments of mathematics. … The great mass of mathematical literature will be always contained in Journals and Transactions, but there is no reason why it should not be rendered far more useful and accessible than at present by means of treatises or higher text-books. The whole science suffers from want of avenues of approach, and many beautiful branches of mathematics are regarded as difficult and technical merely because they are not easily accessible. … I feel very strongly that any introduction to a new subject written by a competent person confers a real benefit on the whole science. The number of excellent text-books of an elementary kind that are published in this country makes it all the more to be regretted that we have so few that are intended for the advanced student. As an example of the higher kind of text-book, the want of which is so badly felt in many subjects, I may mention the second part of Prof. Chrystal’s Algebra published last year, which in a small compass gives a great mass of valuable and fundamental knowledge that has hitherto been beyond the reach of an ordinary student, though in reality lying so close at hand. I may add that in any treatise or higher text-book it is always desirable that references to the original memoirs should be given, and, if possible, short historic notices also. I am sure that no subject loses more than mathematics by any attempt to dissociate it from its history.
In Presidential Address British Association for the Advancement of Science, Section A (1890), Nature, 42, 466.
Science quotes on:  |  Accessible (27)  |  Accumulate (30)  |  Add (42)  |  Advance (298)  |  Algebra (117)  |  Already (226)  |  Approach (112)  |  At Hand (7)  |  Attempt (266)  |  Available (80)  |  Avenue (14)  |  Badly (32)  |  Beautiful (271)  |  Benefit (123)  |  Beyond (316)  |  Book (413)  |  Branch (155)  |  George Chrystal (8)  |  Close (77)  |  Compass (37)  |  Competent (20)  |  Confer (11)  |  Contain (68)  |  Country (269)  |  Department (93)  |  Desirable (33)  |  Difficult (263)  |  Dissociate (2)  |  Distinct (98)  |  Easily (36)  |  Elementary (98)  |  Example (98)  |  Excellent (29)  |  Expose (28)  |  Exposed (33)  |  Far (158)  |  Feel (371)  |  Find (1014)  |  Fundamental (264)  |  Give (208)  |  Great (1610)  |  High (370)  |  Historic (7)  |  History (716)  |  Hitherto (6)  |  Idea (881)  |  Intend (18)  |  Introduction (37)  |  Journal (31)  |  Kind (564)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Last (425)  |  Learner (10)  |  Lie (370)  |  Literature (116)  |  Lose (165)  |  Lying (55)  |  Making (300)  |  Manner (62)  |  Mass (160)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Mean (810)  |  Means (587)  |  Memoir (13)  |  Mention (84)  |  Merely (315)  |  More (2558)  |  Nature (2017)  |  New (1273)  |  Notice (81)  |  Number (710)  |  Obtain (164)  |  Ordinary (167)  |  Original (61)  |  Part (235)  |  Peril (9)  |  Person (366)  |  Possible (560)  |  Practical (225)  |  Present (630)  |  Problem (731)  |  Prof (2)  |  Prolific (5)  |  Publish (42)  |  Question (649)  |  Reach (286)  |  Real (159)  |  Reality (274)  |  Reason (766)  |  Reference (33)  |  Regard (312)  |  Regret (31)  |  Render (96)  |  Rescue (14)  |  Result (700)  |  Second (66)  |  Short (200)  |  Small (489)  |  State (505)  |  Strongly (9)  |  Student (317)  |  Study And Research In Mathematics (61)  |  Subject (543)  |  Suffer (43)  |  Textbook (39)  |  Theory (1015)  |  Transaction (13)  |  Treatise (46)  |  Useful (260)  |  Value (393)  |  Various (205)  |  Want (504)  |  Whole (756)  |  Why (491)  |  Will (2350)  |  Write (250)  |  Year (963)

Science and technology were developing at a prodigious speed, and it seemed natural to assume that they would go on developing. This failed to happen, partly because of the impoverishment caused by a long series of wars and revolutions, partly because scientific and technical progress depended on the empirical habit of thought, which could not survive in a strictly regimented society.
In 1984 (1949), Book 2, Chapter 9.
Science quotes on:  |  Assume (43)  |  Cause (561)  |  Depend (238)  |  Develop (278)  |  Empirical (58)  |  Fail (191)  |  Habit (174)  |  Happen (282)  |  Impoverish (2)  |  Long (778)  |  Natural (810)  |  Prodigious (20)  |  Progress (492)  |  Revolution (133)  |  Science And Technology (46)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Series (153)  |  Society (350)  |  Speed (66)  |  Survive (87)  |  Technology (281)  |  Thought (995)  |  War (233)

Significant inventions are not mere accidents. The erroneous view [that they are] is widely held, and it is one that the scientific and technical community, unfortunately, has done little to dispel. Happenstance usually plays a part, to be sure, but there is much more to invention than the popular notion of a bolt out of the blue. Knowledge in depth and in breadth are virtual prerequisites. Unless the mind is thoroughly charged beforehand, the proverbial spark of genius, if it should manifest itself, probably will find nothing to ignite.
Speech, at award of Perkin Medal. As quoted in 'Introduction', Royston M. Roberts, Serendipity (1989), x.
Science quotes on:  |  Accident (92)  |  Bolt (11)  |  Breadth (15)  |  Charge (63)  |  Community (111)  |  Depth (97)  |  Dispel (5)  |  Erroneous (31)  |  Find (1014)  |  Genius (301)  |  Happenstance (2)  |  Ignite (3)  |  Invention (400)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Little (717)  |  Manifest (21)  |  Mere (86)  |  Mind (1377)  |  More (2558)  |  Nothing (1000)  |  Notion (120)  |  Prerequisite (9)  |  Proverbial (8)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Significant (78)  |  Spark (32)  |  Thoroughly (67)  |  Unfortunately (40)  |  Usually (176)  |  View (496)  |  Will (2350)

The calculus was the first achievement of modern mathematics and it is difficult to overestimate its importance. I think it defines more unequivocally than anything else the inception of modern mathematics; and the system of mathematical analysis, which is its logical development, still constitutes the greatest technical advance in exact thinking.
In 'The Mathematician', Works of the Mind (1947), 1, No. 1. Collected in James Roy Newman (ed.), The World of Mathematics (1956), Vol. 4, 2055.
Science quotes on:  |  Achievement (187)  |  Advance (298)  |  Analysis (244)  |  Calculus (65)  |  Constitute (99)  |  Define (53)  |  Development (441)  |  Difficult (263)  |  Exact (75)  |  First (1302)  |  Greatest (330)  |  Importance (299)  |  Inception (3)  |  Logical (57)  |  Mathematical Analysis (23)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Modern (402)  |  Modern Mathematics (50)  |  More (2558)  |  Overestimate (3)  |  Still (614)  |  System (545)  |  Think (1122)  |  Thinking (425)  |  Unequivocally (2)

The ends of scientific classification are best answered, when the objects are formed into groups respecting which a greater number of general propositions can be made, and those propositions more important, than could be made respecting any other groups into which the same things could be distributed. ... A classification thus formed is properly scientific or philosophical, and is commonly called a Natural, in contradistinction to a Technical or Artificial, classification or arrangement.
A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive (1843), Vol. 2, Book 4, Chapter 7, 302-3.
Science quotes on:  |  Answer (389)  |  Arrangement (93)  |  Artificial (38)  |  Best (467)  |  Call (781)  |  Classification (102)  |  End (603)  |  Form (976)  |  General (521)  |  Greater (288)  |  Importance (299)  |  More (2558)  |  Natural (810)  |  Number (710)  |  Object (438)  |  Other (2233)  |  Proposition (126)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Thing (1914)

The experience was more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. I have a newfound sense of wonder seeing the Earth and stars from such an incredible perspective. Certainly, through my training I was prepared for the technical aspects, but I had no idea that I would be flooded with such amazement and joy after seeing my first sunrise and sunset from space.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Amazement (19)  |  Aspect (129)  |  Certainly (185)  |  Earth (1076)  |  Experience (494)  |  First (1302)  |  Flood (52)  |  Fulfill (19)  |  Idea (881)  |  Imagine (176)  |  Incredible (43)  |  Joy (117)  |  More (2558)  |  Perspective (28)  |  Prepare (44)  |  See (1094)  |  Seeing (143)  |  Sense (785)  |  Space (523)  |  Star (460)  |  Stars (304)  |  Sunrise (14)  |  Sunset (27)  |  Through (846)  |  Training (92)  |  Wonder (251)

The first requirement is loyalty to evidence. The evidence may be sought in unprepared situations after the manner of a great many clinicians and of many social psychologists or in technical, technologically prepared situations or it may be sought in experimentally prepared situations.
From archive recording (3 Jun 1959) with to John C. Kenna, giving his recollection of his farewell speech to Cambridge Psychological Society (4 Mar 1952), in which he gave a summary of points he considered to be basic requirements for a good experimental psychologist. Point 2 of 7, from transcription of recording held at British Psychological Society History of Psychology Centre, London, as abridged on thepsychologist.bps.org.uk website.
Science quotes on:  |  Clinician (3)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Loyalty (10)  |  Manner (62)  |  Prepare (44)  |  Psychologist (26)  |  Situation (117)  |  Social (261)  |  Technological (62)  |  Unprepared (2)

The focal points of our different reflections have been called “science”’ or “art” according to the nature of their “formal” objects, to use the language of logic. If the object leads to action, we give the name of “art” to the compendium of rules governing its use and to their technical order. If the object is merely contemplated under different aspects, the compendium and technical order of the observations concerning this object are called “science.” Thus metaphysics is a science and ethics is an art. The same is true of theology and pyrotechnics.
Definition of 'Art', Encyclopédie (1751). Translated by Nelly S. Hoyt and Thomas Cassirer (1965), 4.
Science quotes on:  |  According (236)  |  Action (342)  |  Art (680)  |  Aspect (129)  |  Call (781)  |  Compendium (5)  |  Concern (239)  |  Contemplate (29)  |  Different (595)  |  Ethic (39)  |  Ethics (53)  |  Formal (37)  |  Govern (66)  |  Governing (20)  |  Language (308)  |  Lead (391)  |  Logic (311)  |  Merely (315)  |  Metaphysics (53)  |  Name (359)  |  Nature (2017)  |  Object (438)  |  Observation (593)  |  Order (638)  |  Point (584)  |  Pyrotechnic (2)  |  Reflection (93)  |  Rule (307)  |  Science And Art (195)  |  Theology (54)  |  Use (771)

The institutional goal of science is the extension of certified knowledge. The technical methods employed toward this end provide the relevant definition of knowledge: empirically confirmed and logically consistent predictions. The institutional imperatives (mores) derive from the goal and the methods. The entire structure of technical and moral norms implements the final objective. The technical norm of empirical evidence, adequate, valid and reliable, is a prerequisite for sustained true prediction; the technical norm of logical consistency, a prerequisite for systematic and valid prediction. The mores of science possess a methodologic rationale but they are binding, not only because they are procedurally efficient, but because they are believed right and good. They are moral as well as technical prescriptions. Four sets of institutional imperatives–universalism, communism, disinterestedness, organized scepticism–comprise the ethos of modern science.
Social Theory and Social Structure (1957), 552-3.
Science quotes on:  |  Adequate (50)  |  Belief (615)  |  Binding (9)  |  Certification (2)  |  Communism (11)  |  Comprise (2)  |  Confirm (58)  |  Consistency (31)  |  Consistent (50)  |  Definition (238)  |  Derive (70)  |  Disinterest (8)  |  Efficiency (46)  |  Empirical (58)  |  Empiricism (21)  |  Employ (115)  |  End (603)  |  Evidence (267)  |  Extension (60)  |  Final (121)  |  Goal (155)  |  Good (906)  |  Imperative (16)  |  Implement (13)  |  Institution (73)  |  Knowledge (1647)  |  Method (531)  |  Methodology (14)  |  Modern (402)  |  Modern Science (55)  |  Moral (203)  |  More (2558)  |  Objective (96)  |  Organisation (7)  |  Possess (157)  |  Prediction (89)  |  Prerequisite (9)  |  Prescription (18)  |  Procedure (48)  |  Rationale (8)  |  Relevance (18)  |  Reliability (18)  |  Right (473)  |  Scepticism (17)  |  Set (400)  |  Skepticism (31)  |  Structure (365)  |  Sustain (52)  |  Systematic (58)  |  Validity (50)

The most conspicuous scientific and technical achievements of our age—nuclear bombs, rockets, computers—are all direct products of war.
In 'Reactions to Man’s Landing on the Moon Show Broad Variations in Opinions', The New York Times (21 Jul 1969), 6.
Science quotes on:  |  Achievement (187)  |  Age (509)  |  Computer (131)  |  Conspicuous (13)  |  Direct (228)  |  Most (1728)  |  Nuclear (110)  |  Nuclear Bomb (6)  |  Product (166)  |  Rocket (52)  |  Scientific (955)  |  War (233)

The present rate of progress [in X-ray crystallography] is determined, not so much by the lack of problems to investigate or the limited power of X-ray analysis, as by the restricted number of investigators who have had a training in the technique of the new science, and by the time it naturally takes for its scientific and technical importance to become widely appreciated.
Concluding remark in Lecture (1936) on 'Forty Years of Crystal Physics', collected in Needham and Pagel (eds.) in Background to Modern Science: Ten Lectures at Cambridge Arranged by the History of Science Committee, (1938), 89.
Science quotes on:  |  Analysis (244)  |  Appreciate (67)  |  Become (821)  |  Crystallography (9)  |  Determine (152)  |  Importance (299)  |  Investigate (106)  |  Investigation (250)  |  Investigator (71)  |  Lack (127)  |  Limit (294)  |  Limited (102)  |  Naturally (11)  |  New (1273)  |  Number (710)  |  Power (771)  |  Present (630)  |  Problem (731)  |  Progress (492)  |  Rate (31)  |  Ray (115)  |  Restricted (2)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Take (10)  |  Technique (84)  |  Time (1911)  |  Training (92)  |  Widely (9)  |  X-ray (43)  |  X-ray Crystallography (12)

The surgeon is a man of action. By temperament and by training he prefers to serve the sick by operating on them, and he inwardly commiserates with a patient so unfortunate as to have a disease not suited to surgical treatment. Young surgeons, busy mastering the technicalities of the art, are particularly alert to seize every legitimate opportunity to practice technical maneuvers, the more complicated the better.
American Journal of Surgery.
Science quotes on:  |  Action (342)  |  Alert (13)  |  Art (680)  |  Better (493)  |  Busy (32)  |  Complicated (117)  |  Disease (340)  |  Inwardly (2)  |  Legitimate (26)  |  Man (2252)  |  Maneuver (2)  |  Master (182)  |  Mastering (11)  |  Medicine (392)  |  More (2558)  |  Operate (19)  |  Opportunity (95)  |  Particularly (21)  |  Patient (209)  |  Practice (212)  |  Prefer (27)  |  Seize (18)  |  Serve (64)  |  Sick (83)  |  Suit (12)  |  Surgeon (64)  |  Surgical (2)  |  Technicality (5)  |  Temperament (18)  |  Training (92)  |  Treatment (135)  |  Unfortunate (19)  |  Young (253)

The understanding of a complex problem such as atherosclerosis requires the tools of basic science. We are fortunate to live at a time when the methods of basic science are so powerful that they can be applied directly to clinical problems. … [T]he two attributes that are required – basic training and technical courage.
In Banquet Speech, 'The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1985', on website nobelprize.org. Published in Les Prix Nobel, 1985: Nobel Prizes, Presentations, Biographies and Lectures (1986).
Science quotes on:  |  Apply (170)  |  Attribute (65)  |  Basic (144)  |  Basic Science (5)  |  Clinical (18)  |  Complex (202)  |  Courage (82)  |  Directly (25)  |  Fortunate (31)  |  Method (531)  |  Powerful (145)  |  Problem (731)  |  Require (229)  |  Tool (129)  |  Training (92)  |  Understand (648)

The war on drugs must be a metaphorical war. But that … has to do with our stubborn determination not to come to grips with what a drug is: … our refusal to recognize that the term “drug” is not only a medical but also a political concept. … In short, while seemingly the word “drug” is a part of the vocabulary of science, it is even more importantly a part of the vocabulary of politics. … A drug is either good or bad, effective or ineffective, therapeutic or noxious, licit or illicit. … We deploy them simultaneously as technical tools in our fight against medical diseases and as scapegoats in our struggle for personal security and political stability.
From 'The Morality of Drug Controls', collected in Ronald Hamowy (ed.), Dealing with Drugs: Consequences of Government Control (1987), 328.
Science quotes on:  |  Bad (185)  |  Concept (242)  |  Deploy (3)  |  Determination (80)  |  Disease (340)  |  Effective (68)  |  Fight (49)  |  Good (906)  |  Ineffective (6)  |  Medical (31)  |  Metaphor (37)  |  Noxious (8)  |  Personal (75)  |  Politics (122)  |  Recognize (136)  |  Refusal (23)  |  Scapegoat (3)  |  Science (39)  |  Security (51)  |  Simultaneous (23)  |  Stability (28)  |  Struggle (111)  |  Stubborn (14)  |  Term (357)  |  Therapeutic (6)  |  Tool (129)  |  Vocabulary (10)  |  War On Drugs (2)  |  Word (650)

There is no royal road to learning. But it is equally an error to confine attention to technical processes, excluding consideration of general ideas. Here lies the road to pedantry.
In An Introduction to Mathematics (1911), 8.
Science quotes on:  |  Attention (196)  |  Consideration (143)  |  Equally (129)  |  Error (339)  |  Exclusion (16)  |  General (521)  |  Idea (881)  |  Learning (291)  |  Lie (370)  |  Pedantry (5)  |  Process (439)  |  Road (71)  |  Royal (56)

These expert men, technologists, engineers, or whatever name may best suit them, make up the indispensable General staff of the industrial system; and without their immediate and unremitting guidance and correction the industrial system will not work. It is a mechanically organized structure of technical processes designed, installed, and conducted by these production engineers. Without them and their constant attention the industrial equipment, the mechanical appliances of industry, will foot up to just so much junk.
Collected in 'The Captains of Finance and the Engineers', The Engineers and the Price System (1921), 69. Previously published in The Dial (1919).
Science quotes on:  |  Appliance (9)  |  Attention (196)  |  Best (467)  |  Conduct (70)  |  Constant (148)  |  Correction (42)  |  Design (203)  |  Engineer (136)  |  Equipment (45)  |  Expert (67)  |  General (521)  |  Guidance (30)  |  Immediate (98)  |  Industry (159)  |  Install (2)  |  Junk (6)  |  Mechanical (145)  |  Name (359)  |  Organize (33)  |  Process (439)  |  Production (190)  |  Structure (365)  |  System (545)  |  Technologist (7)  |  Technology (281)  |  Whatever (234)  |  Will (2350)  |  Work (1402)

To apply tools of science, physicians must learn to think like scientists. They must acquire technical ability, taste in evaluating experiments, and a sense of creative adventure.
In Banquet Speech, 'The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1985', on website nobelprize.org. Published in Les Prix Nobel, 1985: Nobel Prizes, Presentations, Biographies and Lectures (1986).
Science quotes on:  |  Ability (162)  |  Acquire (46)  |  Adventure (69)  |  Apply (170)  |  Creative (144)  |  Evaluate (7)  |  Experiment (736)  |  Learn (672)  |  Physician (284)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Sense (785)  |  Taste (93)  |  Think (1122)  |  Tool (129)

To function efficiently in today’s world, you need math. The world is so technical, if you plan to work in it, a math background will let you go farther and faster.
In 'Ross, Mary Golda :The Cherokee Nation Remembers the First Woman Engineer for Lockheed', Indian Country News, article published online (13 May 2008) on the indiancountrynews.com website.
Science quotes on:  |  Background (44)  |  Efficient (34)  |  Farther (51)  |  Faster (50)  |  Function (235)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Need (320)  |  Plan (122)  |  Today (321)  |  Will (2350)  |  Work (1402)  |  World (1850)

To keep pace with the growth of mathematics, one would have to read about fifteen papers a day, most of them packed with technical details and of considerable length. No one dreams of attempting this task.
In 'The Extent of Mathematics', Prelude to Mathematics (1955), 11.
Science quotes on:  |  Attempt (266)  |  Considerable (75)  |  Detail (150)  |  Dream (222)  |  Growth (200)  |  Keep (104)  |  Length (24)  |  Mathematics (1395)  |  Most (1728)  |  Pace (18)  |  Paper (192)  |  Read (308)  |  Task (152)

We can found no scientific discipline, nor a hearty profession, on the technical mistakes of the Department of Defense and, mainly, one computer manufacturer.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Computer (131)  |  Defense (26)  |  Department (93)  |  Discipline (85)  |  Find (1014)  |  Hearty (3)  |  Mainly (10)  |  Manufacturer (10)  |  Mistake (180)  |  Profession (108)  |  Scientific (955)

What do all of these pioneers [Archibald Garrod, Oswald Avery, Peyton Rous] have in common? First, they were physicians who were trained in basic science. To them, it was not a question of physiology or medicine. To them, medicine was physiology. Second, they showed technical courage in using the most advanced scientific methods to solve medical problems.
In Banquet Speech, 'The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1985', on website nobelprize.org. Published in Les Prix Nobel, 1985: Nobel Prizes, Presentations, Biographies and Lectures (1986).
Science quotes on:  |  Advance (298)  |  Oswald Avery (6)  |  Basic Science (5)  |  Courage (82)  |  Archibald Garrod (7)  |  Medical Problem (3)  |  Medicine (392)  |  Physician (284)  |  Physiology (101)  |  Pioneer (37)  |  Question (649)  |  Peyton Rous (2)  |  Scientific Method (200)  |  Solve (145)  |  Train (118)

When it comes to scientific matters the ready talkers simply run riot. There are a lot of pseudo-scientists who with a little technical jargon to spatter through their talk are always getting in the limelight. … The less they know the surer they are about it.
As quoted in 'Electricity Will Keep The World From Freezing Up', New York Times (12 Nov 1911), SM4.
Science quotes on:  |  Jargon (13)  |  Know (1538)  |  Limelight (2)  |  Little (717)  |  Lot (151)  |  Matter (821)  |  Pseudoscience (17)  |  Ready (43)  |  Run (158)  |  Scientific (955)  |  Scientist (881)  |  Talk (108)  |  Through (846)

Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains.
In The Passionate State of Mind: And Other Aphorisms (1955), 7.
Science quotes on:  |  Faith (209)  |  Mountain (202)  |  Move (223)  |  Necessary (370)  |  Need (320)  |  Skill (116)

While the method of the natural sciences is... analytic, the method of the social sciences is better described as compositive or synthetic. It is the so-called wholes, the groups of elements which are structurally connected, which we learn to single out from the totality of observed phenomena... Insofar as we analyze individual thought in the social sciences the purpose is not to explain that thought, but merely to distinguish the possible types of elements with which we shall have to reckon in the construction of different patterns of social relationships. It is a mistake... to believe that their aim is to explain conscious action ... The problems which they try to answer arise only insofar as the conscious action of many men produce undesigned results... If social phenomena showed no order except insofar as they were consciously designed, there would indeed be no room for theoretical sciences of society and there would be, as is often argued, only problems of psychology. It is only insofar as some sort of order arises as a result of individual action but without being designed by any individual that a problem is raised which demands a theoretical explanation... people dominated by the scientistic prejudice are often inclined to deny the existence of any such order... it can be shown briefly and without any technical apparatus how the independent actions of individuals will produce an order which is no part of their intentions... The way in which footpaths are formed in a wild broken country is such an instance. At first everyone will seek for himself what seems to him the best path. But the fact that such a path has been used once is likely to make it easier to traverse and therefore more likely to be used again; and thus gradually more and more clearly defined tracks arise and come to be used to the exclusion of other possible ways. Human movements through the region come to conform to a definite pattern which, although the result of deliberate decision of many people, has yet not be consciously designed by anyone.
…...
Science quotes on:  |  Action (342)  |  Aim (175)  |  Analytic (11)  |  Analyze (12)  |  Answer (389)  |  Anyone (38)  |  Apparatus (70)  |  Argue (25)  |  Arise (162)  |  Being (1276)  |  Belief (615)  |  Best (467)  |  Better (493)  |  Break (109)  |  Briefly (5)  |  Broken (56)  |  Call (781)  |  Clearly (45)  |  Conform (15)  |  Connect (126)  |  Conscious (46)  |  Consciously (6)  |  Construction (114)  |  Country (269)  |  Decision (98)  |  Define (53)  |  Definite (114)  |  Deliberate (19)  |  Demand (131)  |  Deny (71)  |  Describe (132)  |  Design (203)  |  Different (595)  |  Distinguish (168)  |  Dominate (20)  |  Easier (53)  |  Easy (213)  |  Element (322)  |  Everyone (35)  |  Exclusion (16)  |  Existence (481)  |  Explain (334)  |  Explanation (246)  |  Fact (1257)  |  First (1302)  |  Form (976)  |  Gradually (102)  |  Group (83)  |  Himself (461)  |  Human (1512)  |  Inclined (41)  |  Indeed (323)  |  Independent (74)  |  Individual (420)  |  Instance (33)  |  Intention (46)  |  Learn (672)  |  Likely (36)  |  Merely (315)  |  Method (531)  |  Mistake (180)  |  More (2558)  |  Movement (162)  |  Natural (810)  |  Natural Science (133)  |  Observe (179)  |  Observed (149)  |  Often (109)  |  Order (638)  |  Other (2233)  |  Part (235)  |  Path (159)  |  Pattern (116)  |  People (1031)  |  Phenomenon (334)  |  Possible (560)  |  Prejudice (96)  |  Problem (731)  |  Produce (117)  |  Psychology (166)  |  Purpose (336)  |  Raise (38)  |  Reckon (31)  |  Region (40)  |  Relationship (114)  |  Result (700)  |  Room (42)  |  Seek (218)  |  Seem (150)  |  Show (353)  |  Single (365)  |  So-Called (71)  |  Social (261)  |  Social Science (37)  |  Society (350)  |  Sort (50)  |  Structurally (2)  |  Synthetic (27)  |  Theoretical (27)  |  Theoretical Science (4)  |  Thought (995)  |  Through (846)  |  Totality (17)  |  Track (42)  |  Traverse (5)  |  Try (296)  |  Type (171)  |  Way (1214)  |  Whole (756)  |  Wild (96)  |  Will (2350)

Why is it that the self-aggrandizements of Cicero, the lecheries and whining of Ovid and the blatherings of that debauched old goose Seneca made it onto the Net before the works that give us solid technical information about what Rome was really good at, viz. the construction of her great buildings and works of engineering?
From headnotes written by Bill Thayer to his online transcription of Vitruvius: On Architecture.
Science quotes on:  |  Aggrandizement (2)  |  Architecture (50)  |  Book (413)  |  Building (158)  |  Buildings (5)  |  Marcus Tullius Cicero (34)  |  Construction (114)  |  Debauched (2)  |  Engineering (188)  |  Good (906)  |  Goose (13)  |  Great (1610)  |  Information (173)  |  Internet (24)  |  Old (499)  |  Publius Ovid (15)  |  Roman (39)  |  Rome (19)  |  Self (268)  |  Lucius Annaeus Seneca (21)  |  Solid (119)  |  Vitruvius (28)  |  Why (491)  |  Work (1402)


Carl Sagan Thumbnail In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (1987) -- Carl Sagan
Quotations by:Albert EinsteinIsaac NewtonLord KelvinCharles DarwinSrinivasa RamanujanCarl SaganFlorence NightingaleThomas EdisonAristotleMarie CurieBenjamin FranklinWinston ChurchillGalileo GalileiSigmund FreudRobert BunsenLouis PasteurTheodore RooseveltAbraham LincolnRonald ReaganLeonardo DaVinciMichio KakuKarl PopperJohann GoetheRobert OppenheimerCharles Kettering  ... (more people)

Quotations about:Atomic  BombBiologyChemistryDeforestationEngineeringAnatomyAstronomyBacteriaBiochemistryBotanyConservationDinosaurEnvironmentFractalGeneticsGeologyHistory of ScienceInventionJupiterKnowledgeLoveMathematicsMeasurementMedicineNatural ResourceOrganic ChemistryPhysicsPhysicianQuantum TheoryResearchScience and ArtTeacherTechnologyUniverseVolcanoVirusWind PowerWomen ScientistsX-RaysYouthZoology  ... (more topics)
Sitewide search within all Today In Science History pages:
Visit our Science and Scientist Quotations index for more Science Quotes from archaeologists, biologists, chemists, geologists, inventors and inventions, mathematicians, physicists, pioneers in medicine, science events and technology.

Names index: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Categories index: | 1 | 2 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Thank you for sharing.
- 100 -
Sophie Germain
Gertrude Elion
Ernest Rutherford
James Chadwick
Marcel Proust
William Harvey
Johann Goethe
John Keynes
Carl Gauss
Paul Feyerabend
- 90 -
Antoine Lavoisier
Lise Meitner
Charles Babbage
Ibn Khaldun
Euclid
Ralph Emerson
Robert Bunsen
Frederick Banting
Andre Ampere
Winston Churchill
- 80 -
John Locke
Bronislaw Malinowski
Bible
Thomas Huxley
Alessandro Volta
Erwin Schrodinger
Wilhelm Roentgen
Louis Pasteur
Bertrand Russell
Jean Lamarck
- 70 -
Samuel Morse
John Wheeler
Nicolaus Copernicus
Robert Fulton
Pierre Laplace
Humphry Davy
Thomas Edison
Lord Kelvin
Theodore Roosevelt
Carolus Linnaeus
- 60 -
Francis Galton
Linus Pauling
Immanuel Kant
Martin Fischer
Robert Boyle
Karl Popper
Paul Dirac
Avicenna
James Watson
William Shakespeare
- 50 -
Stephen Hawking
Niels Bohr
Nikola Tesla
Rachel Carson
Max Planck
Henry Adams
Richard Dawkins
Werner Heisenberg
Alfred Wegener
John Dalton
- 40 -
Pierre Fermat
Edward Wilson
Johannes Kepler
Gustave Eiffel
Giordano Bruno
JJ Thomson
Thomas Kuhn
Leonardo DaVinci
Archimedes
David Hume
- 30 -
Andreas Vesalius
Rudolf Virchow
Richard Feynman
James Hutton
Alexander Fleming
Emile Durkheim
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Oppenheimer
Robert Hooke
Charles Kettering
- 20 -
Carl Sagan
James Maxwell
Marie Curie
Rene Descartes
Francis Crick
Hippocrates
Michael Faraday
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Francis Bacon
Galileo Galilei
- 10 -
Aristotle
John Watson
Rosalind Franklin
Michio Kaku
Isaac Asimov
Charles Darwin
Sigmund Freud
Albert Einstein
Florence Nightingale
Isaac Newton


by Ian Ellis
who invites your feedback
Thank you for sharing.
Today in Science History
Sign up for Newsletter
with quiz, quotes and more.