--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In science there is a dictum: don't add…" description: "\"In science there is a dictum: don't add an experiment to an experiment. Don't make things unnecessarily complicated. In writing fiction, the more fanta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/ben-bova-26822_add_in-science-there-is-a-dictum-don-t-add-a_269985.jpg" --- # In science there is a dictum: don't add an experiment to… ![“In science there is a dictum: don't add an experiment to an experiment. Don't make things unnecessarily complicated. In writing fiction, the more fantastic the tale, the plainer the prose should be. Don't ask your readers to admire your words when you want them to believe your story.” quote by Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/ben-bova-26822_add_in-science-there-is-a-dictum-don-t-add-a_269985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/ben-bova-26822_add_in-science-there-is-a-dictum-don-t-add-a_269985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/ben-bova-26822_add_in-science-there-is-a-dictum-don-t-add-a_269985.jpg) > “In science there is a dictum: don't add an experiment to an experiment. Don't make things unnecessarily complicated. In writing fiction, the more fantastic the tale, the plainer the prose should be. Don't ask your readers to admire your words when you want them to believe your story.” [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keep experiments and storytelling simple; avoid unnecessary complexity to maintain clarity and belief. **In simple terms:** Simplicity strengthens science and fiction. Key Takeaway Strip away excess to focus on core ideas. Themes simplicity clarity communication Mood practical instructive Type educational motivational When to use this quote - lab design - scriptwriting - editing - teaching - product development Key Concepts methodology literary craft Questions to Reflect On - When does simplicity become a hindrance? - How do you balance detail with clarity? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification can ignore necessary nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [Writing fiction, for me, is a more indirect form of self-exploration than writing verse. 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