--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the honour is given to that…" description: "\"When the honour is given to that scientist personally the happiness is sweet indeed. Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/george-porter-46757_activity_when-the-honour-is-given-to-that-scienti_1630530.jpg" --- # When the honour is given to that scientist personally the… ![“When the honour is given to that scientist personally the happiness is sweet indeed. Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers.” quote by George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/george-porter-46757_activity_when-the-honour-is-given-to-that-scienti_1630530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/george-porter-46757_activity_when-the-honour-is-given-to-that-scienti_1630530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/george-porter-46757_activity_when-the-honour-is-given-to-that-scienti_1630530.jpg) > “When the honour is given to that scientist personally the happiness is sweet indeed. Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers.” [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is informal, collaborative, and enjoyable, emphasizing humility and everyday practice over grandiosity. **In simple terms:** Science is casual and rewarding. Key Takeaway Embrace informal, collaborative scientific work. Themes science collaboration humility education Mood inspirational lighthearted Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - research labs - classroom experiments - public outreach - science festivals Key Concepts lab culture science communication team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does informal culture affect scientific breakthroughs? - What balance between rigor and ease is ideal? A Different Perspective Informality may reduce perceived rigor; informal settings can foster creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Informal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informal/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) ## Related quotes > [Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/science-is-on-the-whole-an-informal-activity-a-life-of-shirt-sleeves/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [I wanted to show people the sweet science I have, from my amateur background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jacobs/i-wanted-to-show-people-the-sweet-science-i-have-from-my-amateur/) [Daniel Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jacobs/) > [When something in the sweet science doesn't look right, most likely it isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hauser/when-something-in-the-sweet-science-doesn-t-look-right-most-likely-it/) [Thomas Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hauser/) > [I say the sweet science is to understand not only how to fight coming forward, how to be a big puncher, but also understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-say-the-sweet-science-is-to-understand-not-only-how-to-fight-coming/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [I say the sweet science is to hit and not get hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-say-the-sweet-science-is-to-hit-and-not-get-hit/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [“Sweet science will banish the dark religions…so the enlightened religions can flourish.’ ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/sweet-science-will-banish-the-dark-religions-so-the-enlightened/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I developed that for a long time. I also developed 'Sugar Sweet Science' at New Line and that didn't happen. That was a boxing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-devito/i-developed-that-for-a-long-time-i-also-developed-sugar-sweet-science/) [Danny DeVito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-devito/) > [“Formal learning is like riding a bus: the driver decides where the bus is going; the passengers are along for the ride. Informal learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-cross/formal-learning-is-like-riding-a-bus-the-driver-decides-where-the-bus/) Jay Cross > [Writers who hedge their use of unfamiliar, infrequent, or informal words with 'I know that's not a real word,' hoping to distance themselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/writers-who-hedge-their-use-of-unfamiliar-infrequent-or-informal/) [Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/) > [I love a modern suit paired with a polo or cotton T-shirt... and then paired with leather sneakers, or cashmere joggers with a tailored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brunello-cucinelli/i-love-a-modern-suit-paired-with-a-polo-or-cotton-t-shirt-and-then/) [Brunello Cucinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brunello-cucinelli/) > [When I had photographed Prince William's mother, I brought along a CD of Dalida, a French singer, that we played on set all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/when-i-had-photographed-prince-william-s-mother-i-brought-along-a-cd/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [Judging by informal observation, most young Americans burn up their spare time buffing their emotional IQ and self-esteem with social media and non-stop texting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/judging-by-informal-observation-most-young-americans-burn-up-their/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [“We need ways to validate and support our thinking, no matter how informal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/we-need-ways-to-validate-and-support-our-thinking-no-matter-how/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## More by George Porter > [Should we force science down the throats of those that have no taste for it ? Is it our duty to drag them kicking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/should-we-force-science-down-the-throats-of-those-that-have-no-taste/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [Tonight I should like to thank all those who have shared my work and to acknowledge the debt that I owe to my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/tonight-i-should-like-to-thank-all-those-who-have-shared-my-work-and/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [To feed applied science by starving basic science is like economising on the foundations of a building so that it may be built higher.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/to-feed-applied-science-by-starving-basic-science-is-like-economising/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/science-is-on-the-whole-an-informal-activity-a-life-of-shirt-sleeves/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy. If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/i-have-no-doubt-that-we-will-be-successful-in-harnessing-the-sun-s/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [To solve a problem is to create new problems, new knowledge immediately reveals new areas of ignorance, and the need for new experiments. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/to-solve-a-problem-is-to-create-new-problems-new-knowledge/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [It is not only my laboratory and my place of work but also my home, so that on the 30th October I was able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/it-is-not-only-my-laboratory-and-my-place-of-work-but-also-my-home-so/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) [Explore all 8 George Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the honour is given to that scientist personally the happiness is sweet indeed. 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