--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The progress of Science consists in…" description: "\"The progress of Science consists in observing interconnections and in showing with a patient ingenuity that the events of this ever-shifting world are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/alfred-north-whitehead-836_accounts_the-progress-of-science-consists-in-obse_1124460.jpg" --- # The progress of Science consists in observing… ![“The progress of Science consists in observing interconnections and in showing with a patient ingenuity that the events of this ever-shifting world are but examples of a few general relations, called laws. To see what is general in what is particular, and what is permanent in what is transitory, is…” quote by Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/alfred-north-whitehead-836_accounts_the-progress-of-science-consists-in-obse_1124460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/alfred-north-whitehead-836_accounts_the-progress-of-science-consists-in-obse_1124460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/alfred-north-whitehead-836_accounts_the-progress-of-science-consists-in-obse_1124460.jpg) > “The progress of Science consists in observing interconnections and in showing with a patient ingenuity that the events of this ever-shifting world are but examples of a few general relations, called laws. To see what is general in what is particular, and what is permanent in what is transitory, is the aim of scientific thought.” [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science seeks patterns behind changing events, revealing universal laws that explain the temporary and the permanent. **In simple terms:** Science finds universal patterns in changing events. Key Takeaway Look for underlying laws in everyday phenomena. Themes science philosophy analysis patterns universals Mood curious analytical inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research - education - policy making - technology development - problem solving Key Concepts laws generalization epistemology methodology Questions to Reflect On - What hidden patterns can you identify in your work? - How do you distinguish temporary trends from lasting principles? A Different Perspective Complex systems may resist simple laws, requiring nuanced models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Examples General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examples-general-3058075/) [General Relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-relations-3058074/) [Ingenuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenuity/) [Interconnection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interconnection/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-general-754524/) [Observing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observing/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-science/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-thought-1056535/) [Shifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shifting/) [Transitory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transitory/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [To see what is general in what is particular, and what is permanent in what is transitory, is the aim of scientific thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/to-see-what-is-general-in-what-is-particular-and-what-is-permanent-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The aims of scientific thought are to see the general in the particular and the eternal in the transitory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-aims-of-scientific-thought-are-to-see-the-general-in-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/laws-in-their-most-general-signification-are-the-necessary-relations/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [We have got so many regulatory laws already that in general I feel that we would be just as well off if we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/we-have-got-so-many-regulatory-laws-already-that-in-general-i-feel/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have their laws:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/laws-in-their-most-general-signification-are-the-necessary-relations-2/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [For all laws are general judgements, or sentences of the legislator; as also every particular judgement is a law to him whose case is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-all-laws-are-general-judgements-or-sentences-of-the-legislator-as/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [The work of the painter, the poet or the musician, like the myths and symbols of the savage, ought to be seen by us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/the-work-of-the-painter-the-poet-or-the-musician-like-the-myths-and/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [“All human thought, including scientific thought, rests on premises which cannot be validated by human reason and which came from historical epoch to historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/all-human-thought-including-scientific-thought-rests-on-premises/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [The aim of scientific thought, then, is to apply past experience to new circumstances; the instrument is an observed uniformity in the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kingdon-clifford/the-aim-of-scientific-thought-then-is-to-apply-past-experience-to-new/) [William Kingdon Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kingdon-clifford/) > [Science does not give us absolute and final certainty. It only gives us assurance within the limits of our mental abilities and the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/science-does-not-give-us-absolute-and-final-certainty-it-only-gives/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Scientific thought and the miraculous unconscious are two waves in the same ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/scientific-thought-and-the-miraculous-unconscious-are-two-waves-in/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [“Remember, Thursday, that scientific thought -- indeed, any mode of thought, whether it be religious or philosophical or anything else -- is just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/remember-thursday-that-scientific-thought-indeed-any-mode-of-thought/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The images attempt to capture scientific thought. They represent the physical manifestation of the thought process. Everything in the laboratory is a product of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fraser/the-images-attempt-to-capture-scientific-thought-they-represent-the/) [Peter Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fraser/) > [Science, like art, religion, commerce, warfare, and even sleep, is based on presuppositions. It differs, however, from most other branches of human activity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/science-like-art-religion-commerce-warfare-and-even-sleep-is-based-on/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [In scientific thought, the concept functions all the better for being cut off from all background images. In its full exercise, the scientific concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/in-scientific-thought-the-concept-functions-all-the-better-for-being/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) ## More by Alfred North Whitehead > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/philosophy-begins-in-wonder-and-at-the-end-when-philosophic-thought/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The pursuit of mathematics is a divine madness of the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-pursuit-of-mathematics-is-a-divine-madness-of-the-human-spirit/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Without adventure all civilization is full of decay. Adventure rarely reaches its predetermined end. Columbus never reached China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/without-adventure-all-civilization-is-full-of-decay-adventure-rarely/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Aristotle discovered all the half-truths which were necessary to the creation of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/aristotle-discovered-all-the-half-truths-which-were-necessary-to-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [On the ostensible exactitude of certain branches of human knowledge, including mathematics. The exactness is a fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/on-the-ostensible-exactitude-of-certain-branches-of-human-knowledge/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [It is this union of passionate interest in the detailed facts with equal devotion to abstract generalisation which forms the novelty in our present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/it-is-this-union-of-passionate-interest-in-the-detailed-facts-with/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of infinitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/our-minds-are-finite-and-yet-even-in-these-circumstances-of/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The many become one and are increased by one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-many-become-one-and-are-increased-by-one/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/art-is-the-imposing-of-a-pattern-on-experience-and-our-aesthetic/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The future belongs to those who can rise above the confines of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-future-belongs-to-those-who-can-rise-above-the-confines-of-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Common sense is genius in homespun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/common-sense-is-genius-in-homespun/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Everyone is a philosopher. 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