--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never accept a fact until it has been…" description: "\"Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory.\" — Arthur Eddington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png" --- # Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory. ![“Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory.” quote by Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png) > “Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory.” [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific facts must be supported by theoretical frameworks before acceptance. **In simple terms:** Facts need theory for validation. Key Takeaway Require theory to confirm facts. Themes science verification theory Mood analytical skeptical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - research - education - policy making Key Concepts empiricism philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - What role does theory play in interpreting data? - How do we handle facts lacking theory? A Different Perspective Theories can be provisional and later disproven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-fact/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Fact Verified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-verified-4843081/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Verified Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verified-theory-4843080/) ## Related quotes > [You have to accept the fact that sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-chabrol/you-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-sometimes-you-are-the-pigeon-and/) [Claude Chabrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-chabrol/) > [Politics has always been ugly to me, and yet I accept that as a fact of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/politics-has-always-been-ugly-to-me-and-yet-i-accept-that-as-a-fact/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You have to accept the fact that not all your decisions are going to be right - and when they are wrong, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-jurich/you-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-not-all-your-decisions-are-going-to/) [Lynn Jurich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-jurich/) > [“The only thing that's ours to accept is the fact that we don't always get to know the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/the-only-thing-that-s-ours-to-accept-is-the-fact-that-we-don-t-always/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [Sooner or later, we must all accept the fact that in a relationship, the only person you are dealing with is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/sooner-or-later-we-must-all-accept-the-fact-that-in-a-relationship/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Suppose you feel you cannot accept some fact about yourself. Then own your refusal to accept. Own the block. Embrace it fully. And watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/suppose-you-feel-you-cannot-accept-some-fact-about-yourself-then-own/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Accept the fact that you're never gonna be someone else and embrace the fact that the world needs you as God made you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/accept-the-fact-that-you-re-never-gonna-be-someone-else-and-embrace/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [A fact is a proposition of which the verification by an appeal to the primary sources of our knowledge or to experience is directand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/a-fact-is-a-proposition-of-which-the-verification-by-an-appeal-to-the/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Sometimes we have to accept the fact that we are just human not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-we-are-just-human-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have too accept the fact if we change for better and leave a bad lifestyle that we was born in or we create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-too-accept-the-fact-if-we-change-for-better-and-leave-a-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't forget someone you used to love, you just accept the fact that you were not meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-forget-someone-you-used-to-love-you-just-accept-the-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's nothing shameful in acknowledging that you don't have the answers to every question about life. Just accept the fact that you know only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/there-s-nothing-shameful-in-acknowledging-that-you-don-t-have-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [No matter what your dream job is, you'll likely hear 'no' many times before you achieve your goals. Just accept that as a fact.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/no-matter-what-your-dream-job-is-you-ll-likely-hear-no-many-times/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) ## More by Arthur Eddington > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [It is one thing for the human mind to extract from the phenomena of nature the laws which it has itself put into them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/it-is-one-thing-for-the-human-mind-to-extract-from-the-phenomena-of/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Don't believe the results of experiments until they're confirmed by theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/don-t-believe-the-results-of-experiments-until-they-re-confirmed-by/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Probably the simplest hypothesis... is that there may be a slow process of annihilation of matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/probably-the-simplest-hypothesis-is-that-there-may-be-a-slow-process/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [There was a time when we wanted to be told what an electron is. The question was never answered. No familiar conceptions can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/there-was-a-time-when-we-wanted-to-be-told-what-an-electron-is-the/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [To the pure geometer the radius of curvature is an incidental characteristic - like the grin of the Cheshire cat. To the physicist it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/to-the-pure-geometer-the-radius-of-curvature-is-an-incidental/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Shuffling is the only thing which Nature cannot undo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/shuffling-is-the-only-thing-which-nature-cannot-undo/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [The universe will finally become a ball of radiation, becoming more and more rarified and passing into longer and longer wave-lengths. The longest waves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/the-universe-will-finally-become-a-ball-of-radiation-becoming-more/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Science is one thing, wisdom is another. Science is an edged tool, with which men play like children, and cut their own fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/science-is-one-thing-wisdom-is-another-science-is-an-edged-tool-with/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [We often think that when we have completed our study of one we know all about two, because 'two' is 'one and one.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/we-often-think-that-when-we-have-completed-our-study-of-one-we-know/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [If your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I give you no hope; there is nothing for it but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/if-your-theory-is-found-to-be-against-the-second-law-of/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Human life is proverbially uncertain; few things are more certain than the solvency of a life-insurance company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/human-life-is-proverbially-uncertain-few-things-are-more-certain-than/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [ \[When thinking about the new relativity and quantum theories\] I have felt a homesickness for the paths of physical science where there are ore… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/when-thinking-about-the-new-relativity-and-quantum-theories-i-have/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [There is no space without aether, and no aether which does not occupy space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/there-is-no-space-without-aether-and-no-aether-which-does-not-occupy/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) [Explore all 81 Arthur Eddington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Eddington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-verified-by-theory/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-verified-by-theory/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/arthur-eddington-8366_accepting_never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-ve_3013495.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never accept a fact until it has been verified by theory.” — Arthur Eddington", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Eddington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never accept a fact until it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-verified-by-theory/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/never-accept-a-fact-until-it-has-been-verified-by-theory/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```