--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Theories are like a stairway; by…" description: "\"Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens its horizon more and more, because theories embody and necessarily include proportionately mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png" --- # Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens… ![“Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens its horizon more and more, because theories embody and necessarily include proportionately more facts as they advance.” quote by Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png) > “Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens its horizon more and more, because theories embody and necessarily include proportionately more facts as they advance.” [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theories expand as they incorporate more facts, advancing scientific knowledge. **In simple terms:** Science grows with richer theories. Key Takeaway Build on existing knowledge. Themes science theory development progress Mood analytical educational Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - research design - academic study Key Concepts philosophy of science epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do theories evolve? - What limits theory expansion? A Different Perspective Complex theories can become unwieldy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizon/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Stairways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stairways/) ## Related quotes > [A work in which there are theories is like an object which still has the ticket that shows its price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/a-work-in-which-there-are-theories-is-like-an-object-which-still-has-2/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Theories are like patches on a coat, one day they just wear off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/theories-are-like-patches-on-a-coat-one-day-they-just-wear-off/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [We can invent as many theories we like, and any one of them can be made to fit the facts. But that theory is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/we-can-invent-as-many-theories-we-like-and-any-one-of-them-can-be/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A work of art that contains theories is like an object on which the price tag has been left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-work-of-art-that-contains-theories-is-like-an-object-on-which-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Theories are like scaffolding: they are not the house, but you cannot build the house without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-fenimore-woolson/theories-are-like-scaffolding-they-are-not-the-house-but-you-cannot/) [Constance Fenimore Woolson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-fenimore-woolson/) > [“A work in which there are theories is like an object which still has its price-tag on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/a-work-in-which-there-are-theories-is-like-an-object-which-still-has/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“If he goes after Sophia's father right after the divorce, then everybody knows he's whacked out over it." She'd spent some time analyzing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/if-he-goes-after-sophia-s-father-right-after-the-divorce-then/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Dolly Parton's done 'Stairway to Heaven.' Anything's possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/dolly-parton-s-done-stairway-to-heaven-anything-s-possible/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [“Some books were little stairways, different levels of the self telling the same stories at progressively higher levels of the ladder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tantra-bensko/some-books-were-little-stairways-different-levels-of-the-self-telling/) Tantra Bensko > [Success is not a doorway, it's a stairway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dottie-walters/success-is-not-a-doorway-it-s-a-stairway/) [Dottie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dottie-walters/) > [Man's books are but a climbing stair, Lain step by step, like stairs of stone; The stairway here, the temple there - Man's lampad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-miller/man-s-books-are-but-a-climbing-stair-lain-step-by-step-like-stairs-of/) [Joaquin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-miller/) > [I remember Prince gave me a cassette of Purple Rain. It was like 20 minutes long and he asked me to write something on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-remember-prince-gave-me-a-cassette-of-purple-rain-it-was-like-20/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [I'd break out in hives if I had to sing ('Stairway to Heaven') in every show. I wrote those lyrics and found that song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/i-d-break-out-in-hives-if-i-had-to-sing-stairway-to-heaven-in-every/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [I have watched this famous island descending incontinently, fecklessly, the stairway which lead to a dark gulf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-have-watched-this-famous-island-descending-incontinently-fecklessly/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It's great the way the old-time directors used to manipulate the hell out of you. You see someone dying and all of a sudden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/it-s-great-the-way-the-old-time-directors-used-to-manipulate-the-hell/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) ## More by Claude Bernard > [In every enterprise ... the mind is always reasoning, and, even when we seem to act without a motive, an instinctive logic still directs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/in-every-enterprise-the-mind-is-always-reasoning-and-even-when-we/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Descriptive anatomy is to physiology what geography is to history, and just as it is not enough to know the typography of a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/descriptive-anatomy-is-to-physiology-what-geography-is-to-history-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Mediocre men often have the most acquired knowledge. It is in the darker. It is in the darker regions of science that great men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/mediocre-men-often-have-the-most-acquired-knowledge-it-is-in-the/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [If I had to define life in a single phrase, I should clearly express my thought of throwing into relief one characteristic which, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/if-i-had-to-define-life-in-a-single-phrase-i-should-clearly-express/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [The investigator should have a robust faith - and yet not believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/the-investigator-should-have-a-robust-faith-and-yet-not-believe/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Even mistaken hypotheses and theories are of use in leading to discoveries. This remark is true in all the sciences. The alchemists founded chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/even-mistaken-hypotheses-and-theories-are-of-use-in-leading-to/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Tout est poison, rien n'est poison, tout est une question de dose. Everything is poisonous, nothing is poisonous, it is all a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/tout-est-poison-rien-n-est-poison-tout-est-une-question-de-dose/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [A fact in itself is nothing. It is valuable only for the idea attached to it, or for the proof which it furnishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/a-fact-in-itself-is-nothing-it-is-valuable-only-for-the-idea-attached/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/it-is-what-we-know-already-that-often-prevents-us-from-learning/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [We must remain, in a word, in an intellectual disposition which seems paradoxical, but which, in my opinion, represents the true mind of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/we-must-remain-in-a-word-in-an-intellectual-disposition-which-seems/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [The fact that knowledge endlessly recedes as the investigator is about to grasp it is what constitutes at the same time his torment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/the-fact-that-knowledge-endlessly-recedes-as-the-investigator-is/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [But while I accept specialization in the practice, I reject it utterly in the theory of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/but-while-i-accept-specialization-in-the-practice-i-reject-it-utterly/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Men who have excessive faith in their theories ... make poor observations, because they choose among the results of their experiments only what suits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/men-who-have-excessive-faith-in-their-theories-make-poor-observations/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [First causes are outside the realm of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/first-causes-are-outside-the-realm-of-science/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) [Explore all 91 Claude Bernard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) ## More Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. If the music industry wants to save money, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/stop-trying-to-treat-music-like-it-s-a-tennis-shoe-something-to-be/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [That surely must be a concern to anyone who decides this drug must be given to stop transmissions, again from mother to child, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/that-surely-must-be-a-concern-to-anyone-who-decides-this-drug-must-be/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) Browse all 2,677 Accounts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens its horizon more and more, because theories embody and necessarily include proportionately more facts as they advance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claude Bernard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing-science-widens-its-horizon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accounts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing-science-widens-its-horizon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/claude-bernard-7455_accounts_theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing_2271463.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Theories are like a stairway; by climbing, science widens its horizon more and more, because theories embody…” — Claude Bernard", "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": "Claude Bernard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Theories are like a stairway; by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing-science-widens-its-horizon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/theories-are-like-a-stairway-by-climbing-science-widens-its-horizon/#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 } } ] } ```