--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble is that you won't get the…" description: "\"The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree on a course of action. It is almost instinctive in science to accept contrary views, because ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png" --- # The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree… ![“The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree on a course of action. It is almost instinctive in science to accept contrary views, because disagreeing gives you guidance to experimental tests of ideas - your own and those offered by others….” quote by Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png) > “The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree on a course of action. It is almost instinctive in science to accept contrary views, because disagreeing gives you guidance to experimental tests of ideas - your own and those offered by others….” [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific progress thrives on disagreement, which fuels testing and refinement. **In simple terms:** Disagreement drives scientific testing. Key Takeaway Embrace differing scientific views. Themes science collaboration critical thinking Mood analytical curious Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research labs - policy debates - peer review Key Concepts Epistemology paradigm shift Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle conflicting data? - When does disagreement become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Too much disagreement can stall consensus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-contrary-502470/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Contrary Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-views-502471/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Disagreeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagreeing-928405/) [Disagreeing Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagreeing-gives-3959705/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Views Disagreeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views-disagreeing-3959704/) ## Related quotes > [You will find it easier to accept contrary views, knowing that you are not defined by anything or anyone external to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-will-find-it-easier-to-accept-contrary-views-knowing-that-you-are/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Tribble said that Jobs would not accept any contrary facts. “The best way to describe the situation is a term from Star Trek,” Tribble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/tribble-said-that-jobs-would-not-accept-any-contrary-facts-the-best/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [The great thing about the public is that they're quite capable of believing two absolutely contrary views at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/the-great-thing-about-the-public-is-that-they-re-quite-capable-of/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, "variance sensors" who can tell them the difference between what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-associates-who-have-contrary/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/do-you-know-the-only-people-i-can-have-a-conversation-with-are-the/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [“If we are to believe anything, we must get used to disagreeing with lots of other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-jr-dale-c/if-we-are-to-believe-anything-we-must-get-used-to-disagreeing-with/) [Allison Jr., Dale C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-jr-dale-c/) > [“You know the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rogers-captain-america/you-know-the-last-time-i-was-in-germany-and-saw-a-man-standing-above/) [Steve Rogers, Captain America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rogers-captain-america/) > [I don't mind somebody disagreeing with me - I like that, actually. Because sometimes you'll get an opinion that will help you to reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-don-t-mind-somebody-disagreeing-with-me-i-like-that-actually/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [“Rob McKenna was a miserable bastard and he knew it because he'd had a lot of people point it out to him over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/rob-mckenna-was-a-miserable-bastard-and-he-knew-it-because-he-d-had-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The world may disagree with the Church, but the world knows very definitely with what it is disagreeing. In the future as in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-world-may-disagree-with-the-church-but-the-world-knows-very/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [There's a lot of people that I disagree with that I think I could have interesting conversations with. What I don't want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/there-s-a-lot-of-people-that-i-disagree-with-that-i-think-i-could/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [“I wish there wasn't such a division between people who believe certain things and people who don't. It seems vastly hypocritical on both ends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-breel/i-wish-there-wasn-t-such-a-division-between-people-who-believe/) [Kevin Breel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-breel/) > [I think that it is important to establish a world of place for the characters in improv and there is nothing to be gained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-think-that-it-is-important-to-establish-a-world-of-place-for-the/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [Public officials insult our intelligence and our goodwill when they paint rosy pictures about budgets, jobs, bipartisanship, and transparency, and alter their positions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/public-officials-insult-our-intelligence-and-our-goodwill-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Disagreeing with the fervent patriotism of the Confederates: "I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentlemen. . . . I'm saying very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/disagreeing-with-the-fervent-patriotism-of-the-confederates-i-think/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) ## More by Frederick Seitz > [It required unusual inquisitiveness to pursue the development of scientific curiosities such as charged pith balls, the voltaic cell, and the electrostatic machine. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/it-required-unusual-inquisitiveness-to-pursue-the-development-of/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [Things that people learn purely out of curiosity can have a revolutionary effect on human affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/things-that-people-learn-purely-out-of-curiosity-can-have-a/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [Essentially all civilizations that rose to the level of possessing an urban culture had need for two forms of science-related technology, namely, mathematics for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/essentially-all-civilizations-that-rose-to-the-level-of-possessing-an/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [Research data on climate change do not show that human use of hydrocarbons is harmful. To the contrary, there is good evidence that increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/research-data-on-climate-change-do-not-show-that-human-use-of/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [Individual curiosity, often working without practical ends in mind, has always been a driving force for innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/individual-curiosity-often-working-without-practical-ends-in-mind-has/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [A good scientist is a person in whom the childhood quality of perennial curiosity lingers on. Once he gets an answer, he has other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/a-good-scientist-is-a-person-in-whom-the-childhood-quality-of/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [In my more than 60 years as a member of the American scientific community, including service as president of both the National Academy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/in-my-more-than-60-years-as-a-member-of-the-american-scientific/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [But more than 15 sections in Chapter 8 of the report-the key chapter setting out the scientific evidence for and against a human influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/but-more-than-15-sections-in-chapter-8-of-the-report-the-key-chapter/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [It is one thing to impose drastic measures and harsh economic penalties when an environmental problem is clear-cut and severe…It is foolish to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/it-is-one-thing-to-impose-drastic-measures-and-harsh-economic/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [ This treaty \[Kyoto\] is, in our opinion, based upon flawed ideas. Research data on climate change do not show that human use of hydrocarbons… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/this-treaty-kyoto-is-in-our-opinion-based-upon-flawed-ideas-research/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) > [It is one thing to impose drastic measures and harsh economic penalties when an environmental problem is clear-cut and severe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/it-is-one-thing-to-impose-drastic-measures-and-harsh-economic-2/) [Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) [Explore all 12 Frederick Seitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree on a course of action. It is almost instinctive in science to accept contrary views, because disagreeing gives you guidance to experimental tests of ideas - your own and those offered by others….", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Seitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-scientists-to-agree-on-a-course/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-scientists-to-agree-on-a-course/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/frederick-seitz-37151_accepting_the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-sc_2875999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trouble is that you won't get the scientists to agree on a course of action. It is almost instinctive in…” — Frederick Seitz", "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": "Frederick Seitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The trouble is that you won't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-scientists-to-agree-on-a-course/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/the-trouble-is-that-you-won-t-get-the-scientists-to-agree-on-a-course/#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 } } ] } ```