Covered Quote by Daniel Goldin
“You must also realize that the stuff of excellence-truth, real scientific truth-can be elusive... It is too often covered by the heavy fog of fear and hidden by the darkness of your detractors.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the National Academy of Sciences, 2005
Excellence and true scientific knowledge are often obscured by fear and criticism, making them hard to discern.
In simple terms: Truth is hidden by fear and detractors.
Key Takeaway
Seek clarity despite opposition.
Themes
science
truth
courage
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- policy debates
- public communication
- academic publishing
Key Concepts
epistemology
obstruction
bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we differentiate fear‑driven suppression from healthy skepticism?
- What practices reveal hidden truths?
A Different Perspective
Fear can also motivate vigilance, which may be constructive.
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
