A good many times I have been present at gatherings of…
“A good many times I have been present at gatherings of people who, by the standards of the traditional culture, are thought highly educated and who have with considerable gusto been expressing their incredulity at the illiteracy of scientists. Once or twice I have been provoked and have asked the company how many of them could describe the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The response was cold: it was also negative. Yet I was asking something which is about the scientific equivalent of: Have you read a work of Shakespeare's?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Intellectual arrogance leads to dismissing scientific expertise as irrelevant.
In simple terms: People often undervalue science.
Key Takeaway
Promote genuine curiosity about science.
Themes
humility
education
science communication
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- College seminars
- public debates
- media interviews
Key Concepts
Cognitive bias
public understanding of science
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we equate scientific literacy with cultural superiority?
- How can we foster respectful dialogue about expertise?
A Different Perspective
People may resist confronting their own knowledge gaps.