--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [In the case of research director, Willis…" description: "\"[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney, whose style was to give talented investigators as much freedom as possible, you may define \"seren..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/irving-langmuir-34598_art_in-the-case-of-research-director-willis_2471184.png" --- # \[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney… ![“[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney, whose style was to give talented investigators as much freedom as possible, you may define "serendipity" as] the art of profiting from unexpected occurrences. When you do things in that way you get unexpected results. Then you do something else…” quote by Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/irving-langmuir-34598_art_in-the-case-of-research-director-willis_2471184.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/irving-langmuir-34598_art_in-the-case-of-research-director-willis_2471184.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/irving-langmuir-34598_art_in-the-case-of-research-director-willis_2471184.png) > “\[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney, whose style was to give talented investigators as much freedom as possible, you may define "serendipity" as\] the art of profiting from unexpected occurrences. When you do things in that way you get unexpected results. Then you do something else and you get unexpected results in another line, and you do that on a third line and then all of a sudden you see that one of these lines has something to do with the other. Then you make a discovery that you never could have made by going on a direct road.” [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serendipity is the ability to turn unexpected events into valuable insights by maintaining freedom and flexibility in research. **In simple terms:** Turning surprise into discovery. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility to capture surprise. Themes creativity research discovery Mood enthusiastic inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - laboratory work - product development - creative brainstorming - innovation workshops Key Concepts serendipity freedom interdisciplinary Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure work to notice surprises? - What habits help you stay open to the? A Different Perspective Unexpected outcomes may be ignored without deliberate attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [Many of the things that have happened in the laboratory have happened in ways it would have been impossible to foresee, but not impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/many-of-the-things-that-have-happened-in-the-laboratory-have-happened/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [My philosophy was always try to look like Whitney Houston at all times. That did not work out so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-philosophy-was-always-try-to-look-like-whitney-houston-at-all/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I come from a strong religious background, and I had a very conservative upbringing. So I was nervous, and confused. Here I was wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/i-come-from-a-strong-religious-background-and-i-had-a-very/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [What Whitney Houston has accomplished will never be accomplished. She's the most famous person on the planet as far as vocaling and her songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/what-whitney-houston-has-accomplished-will-never-be-accomplished-she/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [As Arkwright and Whitney were the demi-gods of cotton, so prolific Time will yet bring an inventor to every plant. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/as-arkwright-and-whitney-were-the-demi-gods-of-cotton-so-prolific/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I'd rather spend my time looking at the sky than listening to Whitney Houston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-d-rather-spend-my-time-looking-at-the-sky-than-listening-to-whitney/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [Whitney Houston, one of my biggest inspirations, also had that same mindset because her songs vary from R&B, hip hop, pop, and gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-headley/whitney-houston-one-of-my-biggest-inspirations-also-had-that-same/) [Heather Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-headley/) > [I like listening to old soul music. I like Sam Cooke. When I was growing up, the first things I was listening to was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ferguson/i-like-listening-to-old-soul-music-i-like-sam-cooke-when-i-was/) [Rebecca Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ferguson/) > [Whitney: You black-hearted, treacherous, conniving scoundrel. Clayton: Your flattery warms my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/whitney-you-black-hearted-treacherous-conniving-scoundrel-clayton/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [I'm noticing a new approach to art making in recent museum and gallery shows. It flickered into focus at the New Museum's 'Younger Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-m-noticing-a-new-approach-to-art-making-in-recent-museum-and/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [It was sweaty Whitney (Houston) in Central Park. She knew that park pretty well. Every bush!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/it-was-sweaty-whitney-houston-in-central-park-she-knew-that-park/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [Being on 'Whitney' is a job, but stand-up is my life. I could never stop. There's an art to it. I love having strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-d-elia/being-on-whitney-is-a-job-but-stand-up-is-my-life-i-could-never-stop/) [Chris D'Elia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-d-elia/) > [R.i.p whitney houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-whitney-houston/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [If I could pick my wife by name, It'd be Whitney. That name just sounds right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/if-i-could-pick-my-wife-by-name-it-d-be-whitney-that-name-just-sounds/) [Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/) ## More by Irving Langmuir > [Many of the things that have happened in the laboratory have happened in ways it would have been impossible to foresee, but not impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/many-of-the-things-that-have-happened-in-the-laboratory-have-happened/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [Science, almost from its beginnings, has been truly international in character. National prejudices disappear completely in the scientist's search for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/science-almost-from-its-beginnings-has-been-truly-international-in/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [Only a small part of scientific progress has resulted from planned search for specific objectives. A much more important part has been made possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/only-a-small-part-of-scientific-progress-has-resulted-from-planned/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/the-scientist-is-motivated-primarily-by-curiosity-and-a-desire-for/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [This coupling together of science with international peace, is, I think, particularly significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/this-coupling-together-of-science-with-international-peace-is-i-think/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [Happy indeed is the scientist who not only has the pleasures which I have enumerated, but who also wins the recognition of fellow scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/happy-indeed-is-the-scientist-who-not-only-has-the-pleasures-which-i/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [To my mind, the most important aspect of the Nobel Awards is that they bring home to the masses of the peoples of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/to-my-mind-the-most-important-aspect-of-the-nobel-awards-is-that-they/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [Train yourselves. Don't wait to be fed knowledge out of a book. Get out and seek it. Make explorations. Do your own research work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/train-yourselves-don-t-wait-to-be-fed-knowledge-out-of-a-book-get-out/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [Medicine also disregards national boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/medicine-also-disregards-national-boundaries/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [History proves abundantly that pure science, undertaken without regard to applications to human needs, is usually ultimately of direct benefit to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/history-proves-abundantly-that-pure-science-undertaken-without-regard/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [ \[There\] are cases where there is no dishonesty involved but where people are tricked into false results by a lack of understanding about what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/there-are-cases-where-there-is-no-dishonesty-involved-but-where/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [A chemist who does not know mathematics is seriously handicapped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/a-chemist-who-does-not-know-mathematics-is-seriously-handicapped/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [And literature frequently rises to heights that make it international.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/and-literature-frequently-rises-to-heights-that-make-it-international/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) [Explore all 14 Irving Langmuir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney, whose style was to give talented investigators as much freedom as possible, you may define \"serendipity\" as] the art of profiting from unexpected occurrences. When you do things in that way you get unexpected results. Then you do something else and you get unexpected results in another line, and you do that on a third line and then all of a sudden you see that one of these lines has something to do with the other. 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