--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists have a strong urge to write…" description: "\"Scientists have a strong urge to write papers but only a relatively mild one to read them.\" — Derek J. de Solla Price" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/derek-j-de-solla-price-77682_paper_scientists-have-a-strong-urge-to-write-p_2727061.jpg" --- # Scientists have a strong urge to write papers but only a… ![“Scientists have a strong urge to write papers but only a relatively mild one to read them.” quote by Derek J. de Solla Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/derek-j-de-solla-price-77682_paper_scientists-have-a-strong-urge-to-write-p_2727061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/derek-j-de-solla-price-77682_paper_scientists-have-a-strong-urge-to-write-p_2727061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/derek-j-de-solla-price-77682_paper_scientists-have-a-strong-urge-to-write-p_2727061.jpg) > “Scientists have a strong urge to write papers but only a relatively mild one to read them.” [Derek J. de Solla Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-j-de-solla-price/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists are eager to publish but less motivated to read others’ work, affecting knowledge flow. **In simple terms:** Scientists publish more than they read. Key Takeaway Balance creation and consumption of research. Themes research knowledge motivation Mood analytical critical Type academic professional When to use this quote - conference presentations - literature reviews - grant writing Key Concepts publication bias information overload academic culture Questions to Reflect On - Why do researchers prioritize writing over reading? - How can we incentivize deeper engagement with literature? A Different Perspective Reading is essential for progress but often neglected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Papers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/papers/) [Papers Relatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/papers-relatively-2926712/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) [Scientists Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists-strong-2926711/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Urge Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge-write-405053/) [Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges/) [Write Papers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-papers-797611/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I am a scientist and I am a physician. So I write papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/i-am-a-scientist-and-i-am-a-physician-so-i-write-papers/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Having the urge to write is one thing; acting on it is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-peter-clark/having-the-urge-to-write-is-one-thing-acting-on-it-is-another/) [Roy Peter Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-peter-clark/) > [If you don't have to write songs, why write them? 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It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/very-few-people-possess-true-artistic-ability-it-is-therefore-both/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [That urge to write No one gives a shit on someone's status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-urge-to-write-no-one-gives-a-shit-on-someone-s-status/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you get the urge, then write about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/if-you-get-the-urge-then-write-about-it/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) ## More by Derek J. de Solla Price > [Using any reasonable definition of a scientist, we can say that 80 to 90 percent of all the scientists that have ever lived are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-j-de-solla-price/using-any-reasonable-definition-of-a-scientist-we-can-say-that-80-to/) [Derek J. de Solla Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-j-de-solla-price/) > [It is clear that we cannot go up another two orders of magnitude as we have climbed the last five. 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