--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A hypothesis or theory is clear…" description: "\"A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. Experimental findings, on the other h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/harlow-shapley-52678_clear_a-hypothesis-or-theory-is-clear-decisive_464769.jpg" --- # A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive… ![“A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. Experimental findings, on the other hand, are messy, inexact things, which are believed by everyone except the man who did that work.” quote by Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/harlow-shapley-52678_clear_a-hypothesis-or-theory-is-clear-decisive_464769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/harlow-shapley-52678_clear_a-hypothesis-or-theory-is-clear-decisive_464769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/harlow-shapley-52678_clear_a-hypothesis-or-theory-is-clear-decisive_464769.jpg) > “A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. Experimental findings, on the other hand, are messy, inexact things, which are believed by everyone except the man who did that work.” [Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-shapley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theories are clear but often ignored; experiments are messy yet widely accepted, highlighting a paradox in scientific acceptance. **In simple terms:** Theories are clear but ignored; experiments messy but accepted. Key Takeaway Balance rigor with openness to empirical evidence. Themes science epistemology theory experiment paradox Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research design - peer review - public communication Key Concepts knowledge creation scientific method Questions to Reflect On - How can scientists better communicate uncertainty? - What role does consensus play in scientific truth? A Different Perspective Overreliance on theory can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Experimental Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimental-findings-1897062/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Hypothesis Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis-theory-1575548/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-clear-2442365/) ## Related quotes > [Don't confuse hypothesis and theory. The former is a possible explanation; the latter, the correct one. The establishment of theory is the very purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-h-fischer/don-t-confuse-hypothesis-and-theory-the-former-is-a-possible/) [Martin H. Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-h-fischer/) > [“Occam's Razor" was a principle designed to urge one to select the hypothesis or theory that made the fewest assumptions. Though on the surface…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-konkoly/occam-s-razor-was-a-principle-designed-to-urge-one-to-select-the/) [Steven Konkoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-konkoly/) > [Do not say hypothesis, and even less theory: say way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/do-not-say-hypothesis-and-even-less-theory-say-way-of-thinking/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [When the basic status of a theory is clear, and all that needs to be cleared are details, you can collaborate. But if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/when-the-basic-status-of-a-theory-is-clear-and-all-that-needs-to-be/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [Because of recent improvements in the accuracy of theoretical predictions based on large scale ab initio quantum mechanical calculations, meaningful comparisons between theoretical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-t-lee/because-of-recent-improvements-in-the-accuracy-of-theoretical/) [Yuan T. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-t-lee/) > [A hypothesis is empirical or scientific only if it can be tested by experience. A hypothesis or theory which cannot be, at least in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-j-ayala/a-hypothesis-is-empirical-or-scientific-only-if-it-can-be-tested-by/) [Francisco J. Ayala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-j-ayala/) > [It seems to me that the evidence ... is opposed to the view that the spirals are individual galaxies comparable with our own. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-shapley/it-seems-to-me-that-the-evidence-is-opposed-to-the-view-that-the/) [Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-shapley/) > [“The only part of evolution in which any considerable interest is felt is evolution applied to man. A hypothesis in regard to the rocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-only-part-of-evolution-in-which-any-considerable-interest-is-felt/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day before breakfast. It keeps him young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/it-is-a-good-morning-exercise-for-a-research-scientist-to-discard-a/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [In science, each new result, sometimes quite surprising, heralds a step forward and allows one to discard some hypotheses, even though one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-b-prusiner/in-science-each-new-result-sometimes-quite-surprising-heralds-a-step/) [Stanley B. Prusiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-b-prusiner/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/when-it-comes-to-explaining-human-thought-and-behavior-the/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculations-run-beyond-the-bounds-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [The greatest problem for mathematicians now is probably the Riemann Hypothesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/the-greatest-problem-for-mathematicians-now-is-probably-the-riemann/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [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/) ## More by Harlow Shapley > [Theories crumble, but good observations never fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-shapley/theories-crumble-but-good-observations-never-fade/) [Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-shapley/) > [It seems to me that the evidence ... is opposed to the view that the spirals are individual galaxies comparable with our own. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-shapley/it-seems-to-me-that-the-evidence-is-opposed-to-the-view-that-the/) [Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-shapley/) > [Some piously record 'In the beginning God', but I say 'In the beginning hydrogen'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-shapley/some-piously-record-in-the-beginning-god-but-i-say-in-the-beginning/) [Harlow Shapley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-shapley/) > [Chaos is but unperceived order; it is a word indicating the limitations of the human mind and the paucity of observational facts. 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So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [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/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. 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