--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basic research is like shooting an arrow…" description: "\"Basic research is like shooting an arrow in the air and, where it lands, painting a target.\" — Homer Burton Adkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/homer-burton-adkins-242818_air_basic-research-is-like-shooting-an-arrow_491700.png" --- # Basic research is like shooting an arrow in the air and… ![“Basic research is like shooting an arrow in the air and, where it lands, painting a target.” quote by Homer Burton Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/homer-burton-adkins-242818_air_basic-research-is-like-shooting-an-arrow_491700.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/homer-burton-adkins-242818_air_basic-research-is-like-shooting-an-arrow_491700.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/homer-burton-adkins-242818_air_basic-research-is-like-shooting-an-arrow_491700.png) > “Basic research is like shooting an arrow in the air and, where it lands, painting a target.” [Homer Burton Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-burton-adkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Basic research is aimless until its impact is later defined and targeted. **In simple terms:** Research aims, then finds purpose. Key Takeaway Value exploratory work, then steer it. Themes science exploration purpose Mood analytical motivational Type Air:0 Arrows:0 Basic research:1 Business:0 Goals:1 Land:0 Painting:0 Research:1 Science:0 Shooting:0 Statistics:0 Target:1 Like Shooting:0 Research Like:0 Shooting Arrow:0 Painting Target:0 When to use this quote - grant proposals - product development - academic studies - strategic planning Key Concepts innovation methodology goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you align research with goals? - When should direction shift? A Different Perspective Aimless work can waste resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Arrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrows/) [Basic research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-research/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Like Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-shooting/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-target-4206313/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-like-1116576/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shooting Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-arrow-1860684/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) ## Related quotes > [You have to relax when you're shooting an arrow. You can't be tense. And that just helps, in your day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/you-have-to-relax-when-you-re-shooting-an-arrow-you-can-t-be-tense/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [The gigantic tension before the shooting of an arrow, and the total relaxation seconds later, is my way of connecting to the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-gigantic-tension-before-the-shooting-of-an-arrow-and-the-total/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Take care when someone says I've got your back... they may be painting a target on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-archer/take-care-when-someone-says-i-ve-got-your-back-they-may-be-painting-a/) [Graydon Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-archer/) > [It's basic research: shoot an arrow in the air. Where it lands, paint a bullseye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-streb/it-s-basic-research-shoot-an-arrow-in-the-air-where-it-lands-paint-a/) [Elizabeth Streb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-streb/) > [“The fault is not of the one shooting an arrow, it is the fault of the one who is hit by the arrow. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-fault-is-not-of-the-one-shooting-an-arrow-it-is-the-fault-of-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Scientific research was much like prospecting: you went out and you hunted, armed with your maps and instruments, but in the ened your preparations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/scientific-research-was-much-like-prospecting-you-went-out-and-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Basically, I like research because research is like to solve the quiz, you know. 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