--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Carved above the lintel were the words…" description: "\"Carved above the lintel were the words SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST. Science points east, I wondered? Science is portentous, yes? Science protests too much. S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/ben-aaronovitch-3199_dangerous_carved-above-the-lintel-were-the-words-s_990502.jpg" --- # Carved above the lintel were the words SCIENTIA POTESTAS… ![“Carved above the lintel were the words SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST. Science points east, I wondered? Science is portentous, yes? Science protests too much. Scientific potatoes rule. Had I stumbled on the lair of dangerous plant geneticists?” quote by Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/ben-aaronovitch-3199_dangerous_carved-above-the-lintel-were-the-words-s_990502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/ben-aaronovitch-3199_dangerous_carved-above-the-lintel-were-the-words-s_990502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/ben-aaronovitch-3199_dangerous_carved-above-the-lintel-were-the-words-s_990502.jpg) > “Carved above the lintel were the words SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST. Science points east, I wondered? Science is portentous, yes? Science protests too much. Scientific potatoes rule. Had I stumbled on the lair of dangerous plant geneticists?” [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is portrayed humorously as both powerful and absurd, highlighting its unpredictable influence on society. **In simple terms:** Science can be oddly powerful and funny. Key Takeaway Question science with curiosity and humor. Themes science humor power uncertainty Mood playful ironic thoughtful Type satirical observational When to use this quote - research labs - public policy debates - media coverage - education - bioethics Key Concepts philosophy satire technology Questions to Reflect On - How does humor change our perception of scientific authority? - When does scientific confidence become hubris? A Different Perspective Science’s impact can be misinterpreted or exaggerated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I think we'll have a good potato crop this year," a newspaper editor told his housekeeper one morning. 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