The interests of society often render it expedient not to…
“The interests of society often render it expedient not to utter the whole truth, the interests of science never: for in this field we have much more to fear from the deficiency of truth than from its abundance.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Society may hide truth for convenience, but science must pursue truth fully because falsehoods are more dangerous than abundance of truth.
In simple terms: Science needs full truth; society may conceal it.
Prioritize honesty in scientific work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- policy making
- education
- media reporting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths are we ignoring for comfort?
- How can scientists resist pressure to with facts?
Truth can be suppressed by power structures.