Accidents Quote by Hans Selye
![“I doubt that Fleming could have obtained a grant for the discovery of penicillin on that basis [a requirement for highly detailed research plans] because he could not have said, 'I propose to have an accident in a culture so that it will be spoiled by a mould falling on it, and I propose to…” quote by Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a8/hans-selye-17189_accidents_i-doubt-that-fleming-could-have-obtained_1394880.jpg)
“I doubt that Fleming could have obtained a grant for the discovery of penicillin on that basis [a requirement for highly detailed research plans] because he could not have said, 'I propose to have an accident in a culture so that it will be spoiled by a mould falling on it, and I propose to recognize the possibility of extracting an antibiotic from this mould.'”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on scientific funding, 1950s
Research breakthroughs often arise from unexpected accidents, not from meticulously planned proposals.
In simple terms: Accidents, not detailed plans, drive discovery.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty in research.
Themes
innovation
serendipity
science
research funding
Mood
curious
optimistic
Type
observational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- lab experiments
- grant proposals
- clinical trials
- R&D strategy
Key Concepts
serendipity
risk tolerance
creative thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can funding bodies support exploratory work?
- What balance between planning and flexibility yields best results?
A Different Perspective
Overly rigid planning can stifle creative breakthroughs.
