Nine tenths of modern science is in this respect the same…
“Nine tenths of modern science is in this respect the same: it is the produce of men whom their contemporaries thought dreamers - who were laughed at for caring for what did not concern them - who, as the proverb went, 'walked into a well from looking at the stars' - who were believed to be useless, if anyone could be such.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Innovators are often dismissed as dreamers, yet their ideas shape future science.
In simple terms: Visionaries are mocked before their breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Support unconventional thinkers and ideas.
Themes
innovation
skepticism
progress
visionary
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- research funding
- startup culture
- academic discourse
- policy making
Key Concepts
paradigm shift
creative risk
social resistance
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks do you take for a visionary idea?
- How can society better recognize future value?
A Different Perspective
Some ideas may never materialize despite support.