I happen to be a kind of monkey. I have a monkeylike…
“I happen to be a kind of monkey. I have a monkeylike curiosity that makes me want to feel, smell, and taste things which arouse my curiosity, then to take them apart. It was born in me. Not everybody is like that, but a scientific researchist should be. Any fool can show me an experiment is useless. I want a man who will try it and get something out of it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A scientist should possess an innate, child‑like curiosity that drives them to explore, dissect, and learn from the world, despite others dismissing experiments as useless.
In simple terms: Scientists need playful curiosity to experiment.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate relentless curiosity.
Themes
science
curiosity
experimentation
mindset
Mood
inquisitive
determined
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- lab research
- field studies
- product development
- educational workshops
Key Concepts
empiricism
exploratory mindset
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance curiosity with methodological rigor?
- What experiments have you dismissed that later proved valuable?
A Different Perspective
Curiosity alone may not guarantee practical results without discipline.