The progress of science has been amazingly rapid in the…
![“The progress of science has been amazingly rapid in the last decade; but consider the savants, those exhausted hens. They are certainly not “harmonious” natures: they can merely cackle more than before, because they lay eggs oftener: but the eggs are always smaller, [Pg 64] though their books are…” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1ea/friedrich-nietzsche-15_books_the-progress-of-science-has-been-amazing_2820930.jpg)
““The progress of science has been amazingly rapid in the last decade; but consider the savants, those exhausted hens. They are certainly not “harmonious” natures: they can merely cackle more than before, because they lay eggs oftener: but the eggs are always smaller, [Pg 64] though their books are bigger. The natural result of it all is the favourite “popularising” of science (or rather its feminising and infantising), the villainous habit of cutting the cloth of science to fit the figure of the “general public.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific progress accelerates, but specialists become narrow, producing many small results for a broader audience.
In simple terms: Rapid science yields many small outputs for the public.
Key Takeaway
Balance depth with accessibility.
Themes
science
specialization
communication
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- public science outreach
- education reform
- media simplification
Key Concepts
knowledge proliferation
intellectual trade-offs
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we preserve nuance while popularizing science?
- What responsibilities do scientists have to the public?
A Different Perspective
Depth may be lost when complex ideas are overly simplified.