--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The absolute worst thing that you ever…" description: "\"The absolute worst thing that you ever can do, in my opinion, in bringing science to the general public, is be condescending or judgmental. It is so op..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/brian-greene-2334_condescending_the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-ever-c_2614330.png" --- # The absolute worst thing that you ever can do, in my… ![“The absolute worst thing that you ever can do, in my opinion, in bringing science to the general public, is be condescending or judgmental. It is so opposite to the way science needs to be brought forth.” quote by Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/brian-greene-2334_condescending_the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-ever-c_2614330.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/brian-greene-2334_condescending_the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-ever-c_2614330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/brian-greene-2334_condescending_the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-ever-c_2614330.png) > “The absolute worst thing that you ever can do, in my opinion, in bringing science to the general public, is be condescending or judgmental. It is so opposite to the way science needs to be brought forth.” [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being condescending or judgmental when presenting science to the public undermines trust and hampers effective communication. **In simple terms:** Condescension blocks public understanding. Key Takeaway Communicate science with humility and respect. Themes science communication public trust humility education misinformation Mood inspirational cautious Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - public lectures - science podcasts - school curricula Key Concepts pedagogy ethics media studies Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance expertise with approachability? - What examples show effective humble communication? A Different Perspective Some audiences may misinterpret humility as lack of authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bringing Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bringing-science-2055210/) [Condescending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescending/) [Condescending Judgmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescending-judgmental-2055211/) [General public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-public/) [Judgmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgmental/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Bringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-bringing-2055212/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Public Condescending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-condescending-2055209/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-thing/) ## Related quotes > [ So science alone cannot solve this problem \[mass extinction of humans\]. It's something that we can only tackle by bringing science together with culture,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/so-science-alone-cannot-solve-this-problem-mass-extinction-of-humans/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Bringing science into poetry is one way of acknowledging some of the richest stuff that is in my cultural moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hawthorne-deming/bringing-science-into-poetry-is-one-way-of-acknowledging-some-of-the/) [Alison Hawthorne Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hawthorne-deming/) > [I've dealt my entire career with sexist and condescending people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/i-ve-dealt-my-entire-career-with-sexist-and-condescending-people/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [I just happen to comprehend the low standards of the majority of the music-buying public, and I don’t care how condescending that sounds, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-just-happen-to-comprehend-the-low-standards-of-the-majority-of-the/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [“Let me guess, law student conference?" I started to walk around him, but stopped when I heard the clearly condescending nickname and the amusement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/let-me-guess-law-student-conference-i-started-to-walk-around-him-but/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [Jesus is humble, and His servants must not be proud; but Jesus was never mean or cowardly, nor must His servants be. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/jesus-is-humble-and-his-servants-must-not-be-proud-but-jesus-was/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I remember sitting in his office a hundred times during those grim months and each time thinking, What on earth can he say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-remember-sitting-in-his-office-a-hundred-times-during-those-grim/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Better to be despised, then, than to be ignored; or damned with condescending praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/better-to-be-despised-then-than-to-be-ignored-or-damned-with/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Everybody that loves Nancy loves it in a slightly condescending way. Nancy is comics reduced to their most elemental level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/everybody-that-loves-nancy-loves-it-in-a-slightly-condescending-way/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [“In a way, I owe the invitation to the incredible, abysmal, and really cowardly obtuseness of white liberals. Whether in private debate or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-a-way-i-owe-the-invitation-to-the-incredible-abysmal-and-really/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Liberals are some of the most arrogant, condescending smart alecks, but they're just pure ignorant, and they fit the bill of people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-are-some-of-the-most-arrogant-condescending-smart-alecks-but/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“He was always 'checking in' to see if I needed any help with my campaign, which on the surface seemed nice enough, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/he-was-always-checking-in-to-see-if-i-needed-any-help-with-my/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [It's very hard not to be condescending when you're explaining something to an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/it-s-very-hard-not-to-be-condescending-when-you-re-explaining/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“How could someone so rude, condescending, and assholish have this effect on me? Was assholish even a word?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyra-parish/how-could-someone-so-rude-condescending-and-assholish-have-this/) [lyra parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyra-parish/) > [I'm not being condescending, I'm too busy thinking about far more important things you wouldn't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/i-m-not-being-condescending-i-m-too-busy-thinking-about-far-more/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) ## More by Brian Greene > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [One of the wonders of science is that it is completely universal. It crosses national boundaries with total ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/one-of-the-wonders-of-science-is-that-it-is-completely-universal-it/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [String theory is the most developed theory with the capacity to unite general relativity and quantum mechanics in a consistent manner. I do believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/string-theory-is-the-most-developed-theory-with-the-capacity-to-unite/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [But, as Einstein once said, “For we convinced physicists, the distinction between past, present, and future is only an illusion, however persistent.”5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/but-as-einstein-once-said-for-we-convinced-physicists-the-distinction/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Sometimes attaining the deepest familiarity with a question is our best substitute for actually having the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/sometimes-attaining-the-deepest-familiarity-with-a-question-is-our/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/when-kids-look-up-to-great-scientists-the-way-they-do-to-great/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly - or ever - gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/i-have-long-thought-that-anyone-who-does-not-regularly-or-ever-gaze/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [There are many of us thinking of one version of parallel universe theory or another. If it's all a lot of nonsense, then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/there-are-many-of-us-thinking-of-one-version-of-parallel-universe/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [As every parent knows, children begin life as uninhibited, unabashed explorers of the unknown. From the time we can walk and talk, we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/as-every-parent-knows-children-begin-life-as-uninhibited-unabashed/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The full name of string theory is really superstring theory. The 'super' stands for this feature called supersymmetry, which, without getting into any details,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-full-name-of-string-theory-is-really-superstring-theory-the-super/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [For most people, the major hurdle in grasping modern insights into the nature of the universe is that these developments are usually phrased using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/for-most-people-the-major-hurdle-in-grasping-modern-insights-into-the/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Writing for the stage is different from writing for a book. You want to write in a way that an actor has material to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/writing-for-the-stage-is-different-from-writing-for-a-book-you-want/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [We know that if supersymmetric particles exist, they must be very heavy; otherwise we would have spotted them by now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/we-know-that-if-supersymmetric-particles-exist-they-must-be-very/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The beauty of string theory is the metaphor kind of really comes very close to the reality. The strings of string theory are vibrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-beauty-of-string-theory-is-the-metaphor-kind-of-really-comes-very/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) [Explore all 168 Brian Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) ## More Condescending quotes > [I'm not being condescending, I'm too busy thinking about far more important things you wouldn't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/i-m-not-being-condescending-i-m-too-busy-thinking-about-far-more/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [“How could someone so rude, condescending, and assholish have this effect on me? Was assholish even a word?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyra-parish/how-could-someone-so-rude-condescending-and-assholish-have-this/) [lyra parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyra-parish/) > [It's very hard not to be condescending when you're explaining something to an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/it-s-very-hard-not-to-be-condescending-when-you-re-explaining/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“He was always 'checking in' to see if I needed any help with my campaign, which on the surface seemed nice enough, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/he-was-always-checking-in-to-see-if-i-needed-any-help-with-my/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [Liberals are some of the most arrogant, condescending smart alecks, but they're just pure ignorant, and they fit the bill of people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-are-some-of-the-most-arrogant-condescending-smart-alecks-but/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“In a way, I owe the invitation to the incredible, abysmal, and really cowardly obtuseness of white liberals. Whether in private debate or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-a-way-i-owe-the-invitation-to-the-incredible-abysmal-and-really/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Everybody that loves Nancy loves it in a slightly condescending way. Nancy is comics reduced to their most elemental level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/everybody-that-loves-nancy-loves-it-in-a-slightly-condescending-way/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Better to be despised, then, than to be ignored; or damned with condescending praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/better-to-be-despised-then-than-to-be-ignored-or-damned-with/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I remember sitting in his office a hundred times during those grim months and each time thinking, What on earth can he say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-remember-sitting-in-his-office-a-hundred-times-during-those-grim/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Jesus is humble, and His servants must not be proud; but Jesus was never mean or cowardly, nor must His servants be. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/jesus-is-humble-and-his-servants-must-not-be-proud-but-jesus-was/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Let me guess, law student conference?" I started to walk around him, but stopped when I heard the clearly condescending nickname and the amusement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/let-me-guess-law-student-conference-i-started-to-walk-around-him-but/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [I just happen to comprehend the low standards of the majority of the music-buying public, and I don’t care how condescending that sounds, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-just-happen-to-comprehend-the-low-standards-of-the-majority-of-the/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [I've dealt my entire career with sexist and condescending people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/i-ve-dealt-my-entire-career-with-sexist-and-condescending-people/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [Republicans should save the clip of Jonathan Gruber and run it over and over again in the run-up to the 2016 election. This attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/republicans-should-save-the-clip-of-jonathan-gruber-and-run-it-over/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [Generation after generation, there is this never-ending, contemptuous, condescending attitude to the next generation or the next way of thinking: music, art, politics, whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/generation-after-generation-there-is-this-never-ending-contemptuous/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) [Browse all 125 Condescending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The absolute worst thing that you ever can do, in my opinion, in bringing science to the general public, is be condescending or judgmental. 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