---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What underlies great science is what…"
description: "\"What underlies great science is what underlies great art, whether it is visual or written, and that is the ability to distinguish patterns out of chaos..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg"
---

#  What underlies great science is what underlies great art…

![“What underlies great science is what underlies great art, whether it is visual or written, and that is the ability to distinguish patterns out of chaos.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg)

> “What underlies great science is what underlies great art, whether it is visual or written, and that is the ability to distinguish patterns out of chaos.”

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great science and art share a core skill: finding order within disorder.

**In simple terms:** Science and art both need pattern‑recognition.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate pattern‑finding habits.

Themes

creativity analysis innovation

Mood

inspired curious

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- research
- visual arts
- writing
- problem solving

Key Concepts

pattern recognition systems thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you train yourself to see patterns?
- What biases might hide true patterns?

A Different Perspective

Pattern spotting can be limited by bias.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos/) [Great art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-art/) [Great science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-science/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

## Related quotes

> [Great art allows you to transcend your mortal frame and to reach for the stars. I think great science does the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/great-art-allows-you-to-transcend-your-mortal-frame-and-to-reach-for/)

[Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/)

> [Each film has its processes. It doesn't mean that all animated films have to be like "Boy and the World," but creators have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-abreu/each-film-has-its-processes-it-doesn-t-mean-that-all-animated-films/)

[Alex Abreu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-abreu/)

> [ For no sooner had I begun to read this great work \[Frasier, The Golden Bough \], than I became immersed in it and enslaved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/for-no-sooner-had-i-begun-to-read-this-great-work-frasier-the-golden/)

[Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/)

> [Everything great in science and art is simple. What can be less complicated than the greatest discoveries of humanity - gravitation, the compass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/everything-great-in-science-and-art-is-simple-what-can-be-less/)

[Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/)

> [ \[Mystery\] is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/mystery-is-the-fundamental-emotion-that-stands-at-the-cradle-of-true/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Being happy is a great science. If you are not happy, do not be confused. Happiness is hard to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-deunov/being-happy-is-a-great-science-if-you-are-not-happy-do-not-be/)

[Peter Deunov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-deunov/)

> [There are four great sciences, without which the other sciences cannot be known nor a knowledge of things secured ... Of these sciences the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/there-are-four-great-sciences-without-which-the-other-sciences-cannot/)

[Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/)

> [After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/after-a-certain-high-level-of-technical-skill-is-achieved-science-and/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm not the best audience for that because I'm not a great science-fiction fan. I just never got off on space ships and space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/i-m-not-the-best-audience-for-that-because-i-m-not-a-great-science/)

[Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/)

> [The way to do great science is to stay away from subjects that are overpopulated, and go to the frontiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/the-way-to-do-great-science-is-to-stay-away-from-subjects-that-are/)

[James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/)

> [People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/people-like-us-who-believe-in-physics-know-that-the-distinction/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm not a great science fiction fan myself. I probably feel that way about Westerns. Like I used to play Cowboys and Indians, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goddard/i-m-not-a-great-science-fiction-fan-myself-i-probably-feel-that-way/)

[Mark Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goddard/)

> [Curiosity is the starting point for great science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/curiosity-is-the-starting-point-for-great-science/)

[Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/)

> [“It is only by introducing the young to great literature, drama and music, and to the excitement of great science that we open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-anderson/it-is-only-by-introducing-the-young-to-great-literature-drama-and/)

Eric Anderson

> [The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/the-goal-is-to-turn-data-into-information-and-information-into-insight/)

[Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/)

## More by Diana Gabaldon

> [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

[Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What underlies great science is what underlies great art, whether it is visual or written, and that is the ability to distinguish patterns out of chaos.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Diana Gabaldon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/what-underlies-great-science-is-what-underlies-great-art-whether-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/what-underlies-great-science-is-what-underlies-great-art-whether-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/diana-gabaldon-185_ability_what-underlies-great-science-is-what-und_305647.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What underlies great science is what underlies great art, whether it is visual or written, and that is the…” — Diana Gabaldon",
                "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": "Diana Gabaldon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What underlies great science is what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/what-underlies-great-science-is-what-underlies-great-art-whether-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/what-underlies-great-science-is-what-underlies-great-art-whether-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
