Able Quote by Hermann Bondi
“The scientist … must always be prepared to deal with the unknown. It is an essential part of science that you should be able to describe matters in a way where you can say something without knowing everything.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Nature of Scientific Inquiry, Bondi, 1970s
Science thrives on embracing uncertainty and describing phenomena without full knowledge.
In simple terms: Accept unknowns to advance knowledge.
Be comfortable with uncertainty.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- problem solving
- innovation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What unknowns do you avoid?
- How can you describe what you don’t fully know?
Over‑reliance on certainty can stall progress.