--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In science, there are no universal…" description: "\"In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.\" — Brian Cox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg" --- # In science, there are no universal truths, just views of… ![“In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.” quote by Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg) > “In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.” [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science offers models that work until disproven; no claim is absolute. **In simple terms:** Science is provisional, not absolute. Key Takeaway Question and test ideas. Themes science philosophy epistemology Mood inquisitive reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - research labs - education - public discourse - policy making Key Concepts theory testing falsifiability Questions to Reflect On - How do we handle theories that are hard to test? - What role does consensus play in scientific truth? A Different Perspective Complex theories may resist falsification due to limited data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) [Universal truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-truth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The more uncompromisingly specific you are the more you end up touching the bigger universal truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hooper/the-more-uncompromisingly-specific-you-are-the-more-you-end-up/) [Tom Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hooper/) > [It's more like can I build a group of characters and can I tell some universal truths that feel real and aren't formulaic in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/it-s-more-like-can-i-build-a-group-of-characters-and-can-i-tell-some/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [“We regard our own memories as truths, when they are often just the stories we have told ourselves over time. They become the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-regard-our-own-memories-as-truths-when-they-are-often-just-the/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [What we call truths are just those errors that we cannot give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-we-call-truths-are-just-those-errors-that-we-cannot-give-up/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The benefits of science are not only material ones. The truths that science teaches are of common interest the world over. The language of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-compton/the-benefits-of-science-are-not-only-material-ones-the-truths-that/) [Arthur Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-compton/) > [The version of cosmopolitanism that I favor is exactly about balancing universality and difference. Many people who believe rightly in universality, want, wrongly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-anthony-appiah/the-version-of-cosmopolitanism-that-i-favor-is-exactly-about/) [Kwame Anthony Appiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-anthony-appiah/) > [I'm always working in this universe - whether picturing hamburger joints, Virgin Marys, domestic scenes - using these "vacant-faced" women as a medium to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-aldridge/i-m-always-working-in-this-universe-whether-picturing-hamburger/) [Miles Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-aldridge/) > [There' something about universal truths with the simplicity of the acoustic guitar. You can take it anywhere and it helps me reach listeners of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-croce/there-something-about-universal-truths-with-the-simplicity-of-the/) [Jim Croce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-croce/) > [Well, there's just some universal truths in a way that I've just observed to be true. You read Voltaire. You read modern literature. Anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/well-there-s-just-some-universal-truths-in-a-way-that-i-ve-just/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [Communism starts with the proposition that there are no universal truths or general truths of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/communism-starts-with-the-proposition-that-there-are-no-universal/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Nothing in the Shastra, which is manifestly contrary to universal truths and morals, can stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nothing-in-the-shastra-which-is-manifestly-contrary-to-universal/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [There is great worth in holding universal truths and timelessly beautiful words in your heart, which will stay there forever, infusing your thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-stevens/there-is-great-worth-in-holding-universal-truths-and-timelessly/) [Dan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-stevens/) > [ He \[the writer\] must, teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-the-writer-must-teach-himself-that-the-basest-of-all-things-is-to/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [No matter who the characters are, you can strip them down and find small universal truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jena-malone/no-matter-who-the-characters-are-you-can-strip-them-down-and-find/) [Jena Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jena-malone/) > [“Beliefs are personal, but universal truths are above that. For example, the surface temperature of the sun is around 5,505 degrees Celsius – the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/beliefs-are-personal-but-universal-truths-are-above-that-for-example/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Brian Cox > [You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/you-dig-deeper-and-it-gets-more-and-more-complicated-and-you-get/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I didn't have this feeling that I should be a leading actor in the cinema. And I wouldn't want the responsibility of the opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-didn-t-have-this-feeling-that-i-should-be-a-leading-actor-in-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-correct-statement-of-individual-rights-is-that-everyone-has-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I was living in London and I thought, 'There's nothing here for me anymore.' I don't want to become this actor who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-was-living-in-london-and-i-thought-there-s-nothing-here-for-me/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I enjoy acting now more than I ever have. I've had lots of difficult times when I was younger, but that was all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-enjoy-acting-now-more-than-i-ever-have-i-ve-had-lots-of-difficult/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The problem is that the U.K. in essence is a feudal society. It's everyone in their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-problem-is-that-the-u-k-in-essence-is-a-feudal-society-it-s/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Deeper understanding confers that most precious thing - wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/deeper-understanding-confers-that-most-precious-thing-wonder/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“Later, we shall see that if it were possible to exceed the speed of light, we could construct time machines capable of transporting us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/later-we-shall-see-that-if-it-were-possible-to-exceed-the-speed-of/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [It would be wonderful if ideas could be the new rock 'n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/it-would-be-wonderful-if-ideas-could-be-the-new-rock-n-roll/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I've directed a couple of times in the theater, but I wouldn't make a habit of it because it's too consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-ve-directed-a-couple-of-times-in-the-theater-but-i-wouldn-t-make-a/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“I'm comfortable with the unknown -- that's the point of science. There are places out there, billions of places out there, that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-m-comfortable-with-the-unknown-that-s-the-point-of-science-there/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The story of the universe finally comes to an end. For the first time in its life, the universe will be permanent and unchanging.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-story-of-the-universe-finally-comes-to-an-end-for-the-first-time/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I did a film in which Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton both played the leads, 'Desperate Measures,' and interestingly enough it was their biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-did-a-film-in-which-andy-garcia-and-michael-keaton-both-played-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Science is too important not to be a part of popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/science-is-too-important-not-to-be-a-part-of-popular-culture/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I always think I look like the Elephant Man - I can't get used to my own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-always-think-i-look-like-the-elephant-man-i-can-t-get-used-to-my/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) [Explore all 77 Brian Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## More Science quotes > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) Joseph Loconte > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) Kenan Malik > [“Love. Such a sweet, simple word. A word I've been searching for my entire life - but especially since I met Eio - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/love-such-a-sweet-simple-word-a-word-i-ve-been-searching-for-my/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [A vacuum can only exist, I imagine, by the things which enclose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/a-vacuum-can-only-exist-i-imagine-by-the-things-which-enclose-it/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [You feed yourself. 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Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) [Browse all 27,477 Science quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Cox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths-just-views-of-the-world-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Science" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths-just-views-of-the-world-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/brian-cox-8883_science_in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths_2523591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.” — Brian Cox", "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": "Brian Cox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In science, there are no universal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths-just-views-of-the-world-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/in-science-there-are-no-universal-truths-just-views-of-the-world-that/#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 } } ] } ```