--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Research is so unpredictable. There are…" description: "\"Research is so unpredictable. There are periods when nothing works and all your experiments are a disaster and all your hypotheses are wrong.\" — Franci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/francis-collins-5281_disaster_research-is-so-unpredictable-there-are-p_3038673.png" --- # Research is so unpredictable. There are periods when… ![“Research is so unpredictable. There are periods when nothing works and all your experiments are a disaster and all your hypotheses are wrong.” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/francis-collins-5281_disaster_research-is-so-unpredictable-there-are-p_3038673.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/francis-collins-5281_disaster_research-is-so-unpredictable-there-are-p_3038673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/francis-collins-5281_disaster_research-is-so-unpredictable-there-are-p_3038673.png) > “Research is so unpredictable. There are periods when nothing works and all your experiments are a disaster and all your hypotheses are wrong.” [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Research progress is irregular; setbacks and failures are inevitable before breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Research has ups and downs, with many failures before success. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as part of discovery. Themes science perseverance uncertainty Mood determined realistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - lab work - grant writing - clinical trials - data analysis Key Concepts experimental design hypothesis testing Questions to Reflect On - How do you recover from a failed experiment? - What strategies keep you motivated during slow periods? A Different Perspective Not all failures lead to insight; resources may be wasted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Experiments Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments-disaster-4997994/) [Hypotheses Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses-wrong-4997995/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-unpredictable-4997993/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) [Unpredictable Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable-periods-4997996/) ## Related quotes > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Even mistaken hypotheses and theories are of use in leading to discoveries. 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It's been said that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/all-illnesses-have-some-heredity-contribution-it-s-been-said-that/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [ As you kind of get over the anxiety about \[science and evolution\], it actually adds to your sense of awe about this amazing universe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/as-you-kind-of-get-over-the-anxiety-about-science-and-evolution-it/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Successful weight management really means a permanent change in lifestyle - and success in this arena provides that person with a great opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/successful-weight-management-really-means-a-permanent-change-in/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I trained initially as a physical chemist, and then, after becoming interested in biology, I went to medical school and learned how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-trained-initially-as-a-physical-chemist-and-then-after-becoming/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I think there are people who's lives have been saved because of the study of the genome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-think-there-are-people-who-s-lives-have-been-saved-because-of-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I finished up my graduate degree in quantum mechanics, but underwent a bit of a personal crisis, recognizing that I didn't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-finished-up-my-graduate-degree-in-quantum-mechanics-but-underwent-a/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [One must dig deeply into opposing points of view in order to know whether your own position remains defensible. Iron sharpens iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/one-must-dig-deeply-into-opposing-points-of-view-in-order-to-know/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Genes are effectively one-dimensional. If you write down the sequence of A, C, G and T, that's kind of what you need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/genes-are-effectively-one-dimensional-if-you-write-down-the-sequence/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [By investigating God's majestic and awesome creation, science can actually be a means of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/by-investigating-god-s-majestic-and-awesome-creation-science-can/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Science is...a powerful way, indeed - to study the natural world. Science is not particularly effective...in making commentary about the supernatural world. Both worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/science-is-a-powerful-way-indeed-to-study-the-natural-world-science/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I became an atheist because, as a graduate student studying quantum physics, life seemed to be reducible to second-order differential equations. Mathematics, chemistry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-became-an-atheist-because-as-a-graduate-student-studying-quantum/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [We give our kids vaccinations. That's a biological enhancement that's considered not just acceptable but actually admirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/we-give-our-kids-vaccinations-that-s-a-biological-enhancement-that-s/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) [Explore all 102 Francis Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## More Disaster quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Architects mostly work for privileged people, people who have money and power, Power and money are invisible, so people hire us to visualize their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-ban/architects-mostly-work-for-privileged-people-people-who-have-money/) [Shigeru Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-ban/) > [The only aspect of our travels that is interesting to others is disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellmanmartha-gellman/the-only-aspect-of-our-travels-that-is-interesting-to-others-is/) [Martha GellmanMartha Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellmanmartha-gellman/) [Browse all 2,239 Disaster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Research is so unpredictable. 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