--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is essential for men of science to…" description: "\"It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant will step in -..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png" --- # It is essential for men of science to take an interest in… ![“It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant will step in - and then the Lord help you.” quote by Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png) > “It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant will step in - and then the Lord help you.” [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists must manage their own affairs to avoid bureaucratic control, otherwise officials will dominate their work **In simple terms:** Scientists should handle their own matters to prevent bureaucratic takeover Key Takeaway Take charge of your professional life Themes responsibility autonomy bureaucracy leadership Mood cautious reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - research labs - academic departments - private practice - policy making Key Concepts self‑governance professional ethics power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can scientists maintain autonomy within large organizations? - What safeguards protect against over‑reliance on civil servants? A Different Perspective Bureaucracy can still be unavoidable in large institutions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Civil servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-servants/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) ## Related quotes > [Give a civil servant a good case and he'll wreck it with clichés, bad punctuation, double negatives, and convoluted apology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-clark/give-a-civil-servant-a-good-case-and-he-ll-wreck-it-with-clich-s-bad/) [Alan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-clark/) > [“There are various, centuries-old, true British traditions to secure this aim. 1. All orders and directives to the public are worded in such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/there-are-various-centuries-old-true-british-traditions-to-secure/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [I like the idea of taking what is essentially a boring, officious job and turning it into something that is a fantasy, to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-like-the-idea-of-taking-what-is-essentially-a-boring-officious-job/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [The civil servant is primarily the master of the short-term solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/the-civil-servant-is-primarily-the-master-of-the-short-term-solution/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [A civil servant is sometimes like a broken cannon - it won't work and you can't fire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/a-civil-servant-is-sometimes-like-a-broken-cannon-it-won-t-work-and/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A president is a high-level official who is elected to carry out a function. He is not a king, not a god. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/a-president-is-a-high-level-official-who-is-elected-to-carry-out-a/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I'm a statistic in a system that a civil servant dominates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-a-statistic-in-a-system-that-a-civil-servant-dominates/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [There are very many characteristics which go into making a model civil servant. Prominent among them are probity, industry, good sense, good habits, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/there-are-very-many-characteristics-which-go-into-making-a-model/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [In a mature society, 'civil servant' is semantically equal to 'civil master.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-a-mature-society-civil-servant-is-semantically-equal-to-civil/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Men of action," whose minds are too busy with the day's work to see beyond it. They are essential men, we cannot do without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/men-of-action-whose-minds-are-too-busy-with-the-day-s-work-to-see/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“A philosophy of work is essential if we would be whole men, holy men, healthy men, joyous men. A certain amount of goods is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/a-philosophy-of-work-is-essential-if-we-would-be-whole-men-holy-men/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [All actual heroes are essential men, And all men possible heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/all-actual-heroes-are-essential-men-and-all-men-possible-heroes/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [It is essential that men start being interested in and excited by how women think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-near/it-is-essential-that-men-start-being-interested-in-and-excited-by-how/) [Holly Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-near/) > [I can't see the point in being in politics if you're not yourself. If you're simply interested in implementing other people's policies, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-can-t-see-the-point-in-being-in-politics-if-you-re-not-yourself-if/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I mean, really, compared to a senior civil servant, I'm very modestly paid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-mean-really-compared-to-a-senior-civil-servant-i-m-very-modestly/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) ## More by Ernest Rutherford > [It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-was-almost-as-incredible-as-if-you-fired-a-15-inch-shell-at-a/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Physics is the only real science. The rest are just stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/physics-is-the-only-real-science-the-rest-are-just-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [From the results so far obtained it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the long-range atoms arising from collision of alpha particles with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/from-the-results-so-far-obtained-it-is-difficult-to-avoid-the/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“When we consider the magnitude and extent of his discoveries and their influence on the progress of science and of industry, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/when-we-consider-the-magnitude-and-extent-of-his-discoveries-and/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [An alleged scientific discovery has no merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/an-alleged-scientific-discovery-has-no-merit-unless-it-can-be/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [A good scientific theory should be explicable to a barmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/a-good-scientific-theory-should-be-explicable-to-a-barmaid/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Gentlemen, now you will see that now you see nothing. And why you see nothing you will see presently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/gentlemen-now-you-will-see-that-now-you-see-nothing-and-why-you-see/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [ The great object is to find the theory of the matter \[of X-rays\] before anyone else, for nearly every professor in Europe is now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/the-great-object-is-to-find-the-theory-of-the-matter-of-x-rays-before/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [All science is either physics or stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/all-science-is-either-physics-or-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 1012 to 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/you-should-never-bet-against-anything-in-science-at-odds-of-more-than/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“We haven't got the money, so we'll have to think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/we-haven-t-got-the-money-so-we-ll-have-to-think/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Radioactivity is shown to be accompanied by chemical changes in which new types of matter are being continually produced. … The conclusion is drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/radioactivity-is-shown-to-be-accompanied-by-chemical-changes-in-which/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/the-energy-produced-by-the-breaking-down-of-the-atom-is-a-very-poor/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [ \[From uranium\] there are present at least two distinct types of radiation one that is very readily absorbed, which will be termed for convenience… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/from-uranium-there-are-present-at-least-two-distinct-types-of/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/of-all-created-comforts-god-is-the-lender-you-are-the-borrower-not/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) [Explore all 51 Ernest Rutherford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant will step in - and then the Lord help you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Rutherford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-take-an-interest-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Administration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-take-an-interest-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/ernest-rutherford-13268_administration_it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-ta_718732.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else…” — Ernest Rutherford", "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": "Ernest Rutherford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is essential for men of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-take-an-interest-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-take-an-interest-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```