I am not very sceptical, — a frame of mind which I believe…
“I am not very sceptical, — a frame of mind which I believe to be injurious to the progress of science. A good deal of scepticism in a scientific man is advisable to avoid much loss of time, but I have met with not a few men, who, I feel sure, have often thus been deterred from experiment or observations, which would have proved directly or indirectly serviceable .”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Science advances when skepticism is balanced with openness; excessive doubt can halt experiments and discoveries.
In simple terms: Too much doubt blocks progress.
Key Takeaway
Balance skepticism with curiosity.
Themes
science
skepticism
progress
experimentation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic debates
- policy making
- grant reviews
Key Concepts
philosophy of science
critical thinking
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you gauge healthy doubt?
- When should you trust intuition over data?
A Different Perspective
Excessive skepticism may also prevent valuable risks.