--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All scholarship, like all science, is an…" description: "\"All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing, open-ended discussion in which all conclusions are tentative forever, the principal value and charm o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg" --- # All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing… ![“All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing, open-ended discussion in which all conclusions are tentative forever, the principal value and charm of the game being the discovery of the totally unexpected.” quote by Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg) > “All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing, open-ended discussion in which all conclusions are tentative forever, the principal value and charm of the game being the discovery of the totally unexpected.” [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scholarship is a never‑ending, open dialogue where conclusions remain provisional and unexpected discoveries are valued. **In simple terms:** Scholarship is ongoing and tentative. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in research. Themes academia science philosophy Mood inquisitive thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research projects - academic debates - peer review - intellectual curiosity Key Concepts epistemology open inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance openness with actionable conclusions? - What role does surprise play in scientific progress? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on uncertainty can stall decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Discovery Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery-totally-1796975/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Like Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-science/) [Ongoing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ongoing/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Scholarship Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship-like-5499898/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Ongoing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-ongoing-2466332/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“-which discovery is totally a matter of application, self-analysis, and experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/which-discovery-is-totally-a-matter-of-application-self-analysis-and/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“Science is an ongoing process. It never ends. There is no single ultimate truth to be achieved, after which all the scientists can retire.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/science-is-an-ongoing-process-it-never-ends-there-is-no-single-2/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“The lack of definitive answers to questions discussed in this book also reflects the fact that science is an ongoing process in wh ich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-h-jenkins/the-lack-of-definitive-answers-to-questions-discussed-in-this-book/) [Stephen H. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-h-jenkins/) > [“Science is an ongoing process. It never ends. There is no single ultimate truth to be achieved, after which all the scientists can retire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/science-is-an-ongoing-process-it-never-ends-there-is-no-single/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I like science - geography, meteorology, cosmology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/i-like-science-geography-meteorology-cosmology/) [Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/) > [You like science? You enjoy science? Always use it for good, never for evil. Can you promise me that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-like-science-you-enjoy-science-always-use-it-for-good-never-for/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I used to read science fiction a lot, and I still like science fiction when it is a model of how we really are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/i-used-to-read-science-fiction-a-lot-and-i-still-like-science-fiction/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [ \[Math is\] not at all like science. There's no experiment I can do with test tubes and equipment and whatnot that will tell me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/math-is-not-at-all-like-science-there-s-no-experiment-i-can-do-with/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [I really like science because it seems to be that place where you get the big picture, everything connects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-really-like-science-because-it-seems-to-be-that-place-where-you-get/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [Technology. It's like science, only useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/technology-it-s-like-science-only-useless/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Not everyone is going to like science as a subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/not-everyone-is-going-to-like-science-as-a-subject/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I was like I was in science class: I was curious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-was-like-i-was-in-science-class-i-was-curious/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I feel like science and art are cousins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/i-feel-like-science-and-art-are-cousins/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) > [The thing I loved, particularly, was the mystery of science and the idea that science doesn't know all the answers, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-campbell/the-thing-i-loved-particularly-was-the-mystery-of-science-and-the/) [Dallas Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-campbell/) > [“Religion, like science, is only noteworthy when it emphasizes a matter of what is true rather than whose belief is greater or lesser or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/religion-like-science-is-only-noteworthy-when-it-emphasizes-a-matter/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) ## More by Hugh Nibley > [Joseph Smith could not have picked a better year to start The Book of Mormon than 600 B.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/joseph-smith-could-not-have-picked-a-better-year-to-start-the-book-of/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [ \[Eve\] sees through Satan's disquise of clever hypocrisy, identifies him, and exposes him for what he is...\[ever since Satan has\] had it in for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/eve-sees-through-satan-s-disquise-of-clever-hypocrisy-identifies-him/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/only-if-you-reach-the-boundary-will-the-boundary-recede-before-you/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“Blindness to larger contexts is a constitutional defect of human thinking imposed by the painful necessity of being able to concentrate on only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/blindness-to-larger-contexts-is-a-constitutional-defect-of-human/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Careerism is the determination to reign in hell rather than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/careerism-is-the-determination-to-reign-in-hell-rather-than-serve-in/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The very helplessness of the public which makes it necessary for them to consult the experts also makes it impossible for them to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-very-helplessness-of-the-public-which-makes-it-necessary-for-them/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The unique value of Christianity lies in those things which would never in a million years occur to men if left to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-unique-value-of-christianity-lies-in-those-things-which-would/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting-no-matter-how-bad-he-has/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Competitiveness always rests on the assumption of a life-and-death struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/competitiveness-always-rests-on-the-assumption-of-a-life-and-death/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why do people feel guilty about TV? What is wrong with it? Just this: it shuts out all the wonderful things of which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-do-people-feel-guilty-about-tv-what-is-wrong-with-it-just-this-it/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Nobody loves the rat race, but nobody can think of anything else—Satan has us just where he wants us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/nobody-loves-the-rat-race-but-nobody-can-think-of-anything-else-satan/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why read the Book of Mormon? Because angels do not come on trivial errands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-read-the-book-of-mormon-because-angels-do-not-come-on-trivial/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/if-you-pray-for-an-angel-to-visit-you-you-know-what-he-ll-do-if-he/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Nibley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## More Charm quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Every woman has the instinct, the propensity to profit from her charms, and there's a lot to be said for giving oneself without love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/every-woman-has-the-instinct-the-propensity-to-profit-from-her-charms/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [I don't know that I'm a free spirit or anything like that. I just have my own way of doing things. That's the charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-schultz/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-a-free-spirit-or-anything-like-that-i-just-have/) [Dave Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-schultz/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Even after marrying Mallika, I feel that I am her boyfriend. In fact, I believe this feeling enhances the charm and fun of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/even-after-marrying-mallika-i-feel-that-i-am-her-boyfriend-in-fact-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Never trust charm, it's the most powerful weapon in the devil's armory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gilbert/never-trust-charm-it-s-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-devil-s-armory/) [Anthony Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gilbert/) > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 1,415 Charm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing, open-ended discussion in which all conclusions are tentative forever, the principal value and charm of the game being the discovery of the totally unexpected.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Nibley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-ongoing-open-ended-discussion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-ongoing-open-ended-discussion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/hugh-nibley-13330_charm_all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-o_3124447.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All scholarship, like all science, is an ongoing, open-ended discussion in which all conclusions are…” — Hugh Nibley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hugh Nibley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All scholarship, like all science, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-ongoing-open-ended-discussion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/all-scholarship-like-all-science-is-an-ongoing-open-ended-discussion/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```