--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The scientist, by the very nature of his…" description: "\"The scientist, by the very nature of his commitment, creates more and more questions, never fewer. Indeed the measure of our intellectual maturity, one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/gordon-allport-29384_answers_the-scientist-by-the-very-nature-of-his_1514309.jpg" --- # The scientist, by the very nature of his commitment… ![“The scientist, by the very nature of his commitment, creates more and more questions, never fewer. Indeed the measure of our intellectual maturity, one philosopher suggests, is our capacity to feel less and less satisfied with our answers to better problems.” quote by Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/gordon-allport-29384_answers_the-scientist-by-the-very-nature-of-his_1514309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/gordon-allport-29384_answers_the-scientist-by-the-very-nature-of-his_1514309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/gordon-allport-29384_answers_the-scientist-by-the-very-nature-of-his_1514309.jpg) > “The scientist, by the very nature of his commitment, creates more and more questions, never fewer. Indeed the measure of our intellectual maturity, one philosopher suggests, is our capacity to feel less and less satisfied with our answers to better problems.” [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science constantly generates new questions, showing intellectual growth is measured by increasing dissatisfaction with simple answers. **In simple terms:** Science creates more questions, showing growth. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity over certainty. Themes intellectual growth questioning science philosophy Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - policy making - technological development - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy of science epistemic humility research motivation Questions to Reflect On - Do you welcome uncertainty? - How can we balance curiosity with practical needs? A Different Perspective Some questions may become unanswerable, leading to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-maturity-5582079/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Maturity Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity-philosopher-5582078/) [Measure Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-intellectual-2362042/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosopher Suggests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher-suggests-5582080/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [“A willingness to live with irresolvable questions is a mark of intellectual maturity, not a matter of logical nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-k-stenberger/a-willingness-to-live-with-irresolvable-questions-is-a-mark-of/) [Andreas Köstenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-k-stenberger/) > [The measure of our intellectual capacity is the capacity to feel less and less satisfied with our answers to better and better problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-west-churchman/the-measure-of-our-intellectual-capacity-is-the-capacity-to-feel-less/) [C. 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Fewer features mean fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/developing-fewer-features-allows-you-to-conserve-development/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more bricklayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-it-comes-to-getting-things-done-we-need-fewer-architects-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would like to see fewer actors modeling, or if they're going to model to the extent that they are modeling, then I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-seymour/i-would-like-to-see-fewer-actors-modeling-or-if-they-re-going-to/) [Stephanie Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-seymour/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) ## More by Gordon Allport > [The specific goals we set for ourselves are almost always subsidiary to our long range intentions. A good parent, a good neighbour, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-specific-goals-we-set-for-ourselves-are-almost-always-subsidiary/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [The mature religious sentiment is ordinarily fashioned in the workshop of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-mature-religious-sentiment-is-ordinarily-fashioned-in-the/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [The theist is persuaded that while nothing that contradicts science is likely to be true, still nothing that stops with science can be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-theist-is-persuaded-that-while-nothing-that-contradicts-science/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Life is too short so we must generalize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/life-is-too-short-so-we-must-generalize/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [ Since we think about ourselves so much of the time, it is comforting to assume ... that we really know the score… \[But\] this… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/since-we-think-about-ourselves-so-much-of-the-time-it-is-comforting/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Personality is and does something...It is what lies behind specific acts and within the individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/personality-is-and-does-something-it-is-what-lies-behind-specific/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [ The dog \[in Pavlov's experiments\] does not continue to salivate whenever it hears a bell unless sometimes at least an edible offering accompanies the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-dog-in-pavlov-s-experiments-does-not-continue-to-salivate/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [People who are aware of, and ashamed of, their prejudices are well on the road to eliminating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/people-who-are-aware-of-and-ashamed-of-their-prejudices-are-well-on/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not prejudiced. Prejudgments become prejudices only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his-erroneous-judgments-in-the/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Love received and love given comprise the best form of therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/love-received-and-love-given-comprise-the-best-form-of-therapy/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [If there is a purpose in life at all, there must be a purpose in suffering and in dying. But no man can tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-there-is-a-purpose-in-life-at-all-there-must-be-a-purpose-in/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Reason adapts impulses and beliefs into the real world; rationalization, on the other hand, adapts the concept of reality to the impulses and beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/reason-adapts-impulses-and-beliefs-into-the-real-world/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Many studies have discovered a close link between prejudice and "patriotism" . . . Extreme bigots are almost always super-patriots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/many-studies-have-discovered-a-close-link-between-prejudice-and/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [There is a story of an Oxford student who once remarked, "I despise all Americans, but have never met one I didn't like."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/there-is-a-story-of-an-oxford-student-who-once-remarked-i-despise-all/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are not reversible when exposed to new knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/prejudgments-become-prejudices-only-if-they-are-not-reversible-when/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) [Explore all 18 Gordon Allport quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. 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