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It is true that my discovery of LSD was a chance…

“It is true that my discovery of LSD was a chance discovery, but it was the outcome of planned experiments and these experiments took place in the framework of systematic pharmaceutical, chemical research. It could better be described as serendipity. That means that you look for something, you have…” quote by Albert Hofmann
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“It is true that my discovery of LSD was a chance discovery, but it was the outcome of planned experiments and these experiments took place in the framework of systematic pharmaceutical, chemical research. It could better be described as serendipity. That means that you look for something, you have a certain plan, and then you find something else, different, that may nevertheless be useful.”

Albert Hofmann

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Serendipity occurs when planned research unexpectedly yields useful discoveries, blending intention with chance.

In simple terms: Planned work can lead to unexpected useful finds.

Key Takeaway

Stay open to unexpected results in research.

Themes

serendipity research innovation

Mood

curious analytical

Type

scientific reflective

When to use this quote

  • drug discovery
  • laboratory experiments
  • creative problem solving

Key Concepts

philosophy scientific method

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you design experiments to welcome serendipity?
  • What safeguards ensure useful chance findings?
A Different Perspective

Unexpected findings may be misinterpreted without proper validation.

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