Remember that [scientific thought] is the guide of action…
![“Remember that [scientific thought] is the guide of action; that the truth which it arrives at is not that which we can ideally contemplate without error, but that which we may act upon without fear; and you cannot fail to see that scientific thought is not an accompaniment or condition of human…” quote by William Kingdon Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/5a3/william-kingdon-clifford-17148_action_remember-that-scientific-thought-is-the_2230855.jpg)
“Remember that [scientific thought] is the guide of action; that the truth which it arrives at is not that which we can ideally contemplate without error, but that which we may act upon without fear; and you cannot fail to see that scientific thought is not an accompaniment or condition of human progress, but human progress itself.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific thought drives action; its truth is provisional but sufficient for fearless application, making it the engine of progress
In simple terms: Science guides action despite imperfect knowledge
Key Takeaway
Act on scientific insight confidently
Themes
science
philosophy
progress
epistemology
Mood
inquisitive
optimistic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Policy making
- technological development
- education reform
- public health initiatives
Key Concepts
Fallibilism
pragmatism
rationalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should we set on acting before absolute certainty?
- How do we manage errors from provisional scientific claims?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on provisional truths may cause errors