Correcting Quote by Allan Sandage
“Science is the only self-correcting human institution, but it also is a process that progresses only by showing itself to be wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview with Scientific American, 1995
Science advances by exposing and correcting its own errors, making it uniquely self‑correcting.
In simple terms: Science fixes itself by learning from mistakes.
Key Takeaway
Embrace error as a path to truth.
Themes
science
methodology
humility
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- research labs
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
self‑correction
falsifiability
progress
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when your findings are disproven?
- What mechanisms ensure errors are identified?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on consensus can slow correction if dissent is suppressed.
