--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in high school I found…" description: "\"When I was in high school I found literature and history interesting, but science not at all. Literature and history obviously involved thinking, but s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/elliott-sober-13087_books_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-found-litera_2696609.jpg" --- # When I was in high school I found literature and history… ![“When I was in high school I found literature and history interesting, but science not at all. Literature and history obviously involved thinking, but science seemed to be all about memorizing facts and doing mindless calculations.” quote by Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/elliott-sober-13087_books_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-found-litera_2696609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/elliott-sober-13087_books_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-found-litera_2696609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/elliott-sober-13087_books_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-found-litera_2696609.jpg) > “When I was in high school I found literature and history interesting, but science not at all. Literature and history obviously involved thinking, but science seemed to be all about memorizing facts and doing mindless calculations.” [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker perceived literature and history as thinking‑based, while viewing science as rote memorization and calculation. **In simple terms:** Science seemed like memorizing facts, not thinking. Key Takeaway Recognize that science also involves deep reasoning and creativity. Themes education perception STEM humanities Mood curious reflective Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - high school curriculum choices - career counseling - personal learning strategies Key Concepts cognitive bias disciplinary stereotypes Questions to Reflect On - How might you explore the thinking aspects of science? - What misconceptions limit your view of STEM? A Different Perspective Science also requires problem solving and conceptual understanding, not just memorization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Calculations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculations/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-science-481909/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Memorizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorizing/) [Mindless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindless/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-literature-1422292/) [Science Memorizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-memorizing-2700389/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-science-2197599/) ## Related quotes > [What's interesting about science is that we're constantly discovering new things about the universe, about ourselves, about our bodies, about diseases, about the possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/what-s-interesting-about-science-is-that-we-re-constantly-discovering/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [ \[Science is\] the literature of truth. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/science-is-the-literature-of-truth/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Interesting? The Science Channel is interesting...the way you were looking at him was more like...Wild Kingdom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/interesting-the-science-channel-is-interesting-the-way-you-were/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [ \[Science\] is the literature of God written on the stars-the trees-the rocks-and more important because \[of\] its marked utilitarian character. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/science-is-the-literature-of-god-written-on-the-stars-the-trees-the/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [“There is nothing which can better deserve our patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/there-is-nothing-which-can-better-deserve-our-patronage-than-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Science and literature are not two things, but two sides of one thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/science-and-literature-are-not-two-things-but-two-sides-of-one-thing/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Ambiguity is very interesting in writing; it's not very interesting in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janna-levin/ambiguity-is-very-interesting-in-writing-it-s-not-very-interesting-in/) [Janna Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janna-levin/) > [Science and literature are both ways to ask questions about why we're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/science-and-literature-are-both-ways-to-ask-questions-about-why-we-re/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [I think what's always been interesting to me than the science and the criminality with this job is what happens to your persona, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eads/i-think-what-s-always-been-interesting-to-me-than-the-science-and-the/) [George Eads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eads/) > [“But the thing about Literature is, well, basically it encapsulates all the disciplines - it's history, philosophy, politics, sexual politics, sociology, psychology, linguistics, science.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/but-the-thing-about-literature-is-well-basically-it-encapsulates-all/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [The thing that's interesting about science fiction is that it is always, when it is done well, a lens on our world. And yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/the-thing-that-s-interesting-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-is/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) > [I have a particular relationship with Vinod Khosla because he's got a lot of very interesting science-based energy startups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-have-a-particular-relationship-with-vinod-khosla-because-he-s-got-a/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“They bought research as they bough vegetables - a wonderful insight into official thinking about science.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-j-rgen-eysenck/they-bought-research-as-they-bough-vegetables-a-wonderful-insight/) [Hans Jürgen Eysenck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-j-rgen-eysenck/) > [I grew up in a very rationalist household. My father, in particular, came from that mid-century tradition of thinking science will ultimately explain everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-grew-up-in-a-very-rationalist-household-my-father-in-particular/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“One way of thinking about science is that it’s a check against the natural human tendency to see patterns that might not be there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fagone/one-way-of-thinking-about-science-is-that-it-s-a-check-against-the/) [Jason Fagone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fagone/) ## More by Elliott Sober > [From the fact that E is evidence for T and the fact that T entails M, it doesn't follow that E is evidence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/from-the-fact-that-e-is-evidence-for-t-and-the-fact-that-t-entails-m/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Evolutionary game theory was originally developed as an alternative to the hypothesis of group selection; now it is clear that game theory models postulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/evolutionary-game-theory-was-originally-developed-as-an-alternative/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Earlier attempts to show that simpler theories always have higher prior probabilities have failed, but there is a restricted circumstance in which the claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/earlier-attempts-to-show-that-simpler-theories-always-have-higher/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > ["Methodological naturalism" and "metaphysical naturalism" are terms that often surface in the continuing battle between evolutionary biology and creationism/intelligent design. The methodological thesis says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/methodological-naturalism-and-metaphysical-naturalism-are-terms-that/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [The big picture, I think, is that common ancestry is evidentially prior to natural selection in Darwin's theory and in contemporary evolutionary biology as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/the-big-picture-i-think-is-that-common-ancestry-is-evidentially-prior/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [This is not to deny that there are versions of theism that do conflict with evolutionary biology. Young Earth Creationism is an example; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/this-is-not-to-deny-that-there-are-versions-of-theism-that-do/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Some philosophical arguments (e.g., in connection with the mind/body problem) look pretty good, while others (e.g., those that criticize moral realism) do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/some-philosophical-arguments-e-g-in-connection-with-the-mind-body/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [I have spent a lot of time arguing that the theory of group selection is not the stupid, pernicious doctrine that many biologists once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/i-have-spent-a-lot-of-time-arguing-that-the-theory-of-group-selection/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Deism is compatible with evolutionary theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/deism-is-compatible-with-evolutionary-theory/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > ["Simpler is always better" is an overstatement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/simpler-is-always-better-is-an-overstatement/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Group selection and individual selection are just two of the selection processes that have played important roles in evolution. There also is selection within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/group-selection-and-individual-selection-are-just-two-of-the/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Instead of thinking of the question of race genealogically, and leaving it open whether vernacular races are genealogical units, the interest in biomedicine has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/instead-of-thinking-of-the-question-of-race-genealogically-and/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [If the organisms in a species now have trait T, and this trait now helps those organisms to survive and reproduce because the trait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/if-the-organisms-in-a-species-now-have-trait-t-and-this-trait-now/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Another way to test hypotheses about adaptation is to consider trait variation across a group of species instead of focusing on the trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/another-way-to-test-hypotheses-about-adaptation-is-to-consider-trait/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Evolutionary theory, properly understood, does not conflict with the idea that God occasionally intervenes in nature - for example, by once or twice causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/evolutionary-theory-properly-understood-does-not-conflict-with-the/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) [Explore all 52 Elliott Sober quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in high school I found literature and history interesting, but science not at all. 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