--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A neat and orderly laboratory is…" description: "\"A neat and orderly laboratory is unlikely. It is, after all, so much a place of false starts and multiple attempts.\" — Isaac Asimov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/isaac-asimov-309_laboratory_a-neat-and-orderly-laboratory-is-unlikel_358694.jpg" --- # A neat and orderly laboratory is unlikely. It is, after… ![“A neat and orderly laboratory is unlikely. It is, after all, so much a place of false starts and multiple attempts.” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/isaac-asimov-309_laboratory_a-neat-and-orderly-laboratory-is-unlikel_358694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/isaac-asimov-309_laboratory_a-neat-and-orderly-laboratory-is-unlikel_358694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/isaac-asimov-309_laboratory_a-neat-and-orderly-laboratory-is-unlikel_358694.jpg) > “A neat and orderly laboratory is unlikely. It is, after all, so much a place of false starts and multiple attempts.” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific work is inherently messy, with many trials before success. **In simple terms:** Science involves trial and error. Key Takeaway Embrace experimentation and persistence. Themes science experimentation failure process Mood curious determined Type observational motivational When to use this quote - lab research - product development - software debugging - creative projects Key Concepts Iterative discovery experimental design Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle repeated failures? - What structures help turn chaos into progress? A Different Perspective Success also needs systematic organization after experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laboratory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laboratory/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-thing-about-democracy-beloveds-is-that-it-is-not-neat-orderly-or/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Democracy requires a certain relish for confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/democracy-requires-a-certain-relish-for-confusion/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I'm a neat freak... It seems to me that an orderly desk is reflective of an orderly and organized mind, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jann-wenner/i-m-a-neat-freak-it-seems-to-me-that-an-orderly-desk-is-reflective-of/) [Jann Wenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jann-wenner/) > [You'll find that you will be able to reorder the island of your tonal so that it's in good shape - logical, orderly, neat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-ll-find-that-you-will-be-able-to-reorder-the-island-of-your-tonal/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [English Bohemianism is a curiously unluscious fruit. ... Inside this hothouse, huge lascivious orchids slide sensuously up the sweating windows, passion-flowers cross-pollinate in wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/english-bohemianism-is-a-curiously-unluscious-fruit-inside-this/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [“And how did you know about that?” Seven looked at his watch. Chase held up a hand. “Let me guess, in two minutes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-wilder/and-how-did-you-know-about-that-seven-looked-at-his-watch-chase-held/) [Adrienne Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-wilder/) > [It often seems to me that's all detective work is, wiping out your false starts and beginning again." Yes, it is very true, that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-often-seems-to-me-that-s-all-detective-work-is-wiping-out-your/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I've got to eliminate those mental mistakes, the false starts, bad snaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/i-ve-got-to-eliminate-those-mental-mistakes-the-false-starts-bad-snaps/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [Athletes try to get other athletes out and they should have no false starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asafa-powell/athletes-try-to-get-other-athletes-out-and-they-should-have-no-false/) [Asafa Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asafa-powell/) > [It can take a lot of careful thought and false starts in order to arrive at the correct conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/it-can-take-a-lot-of-careful-thought-and-false-starts-in-order-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [To avoid false starts you need to work on your discipline and wait for your triggers. And if you start doing false starts you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/to-avoid-false-starts-you-need-to-work-on-your-discipline-and-wait/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [There might be false starts and do-overs.You are entitled to experiment before you find your calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/there-might-be-false-starts-and-do-overs-you-are-entitled-to/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [“Two weeks of false starts, of too much cloud cover, of strong wind, of last minute mechanical doubts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/exurb1a/two-weeks-of-false-starts-of-too-much-cloud-cover-of-strong-wind-of/) Exurb1a > [“Here is the topography of false starts. Here a whole constellation is lousy with desire. Here what passes for love is the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-guest/here-is-the-topography-of-false-starts-here-a-whole-constellation-is/) Paul Guest > [Dances without purpose have false starts and stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanya-holm/dances-without-purpose-have-false-starts-and-stops/) Hanya Holm ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“It might seem to you, Peter, that a truck driver, one step above an ape in your view, can't remember. But truck drivers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-might-seem-to-you-peter-that-a-truck-driver-one-step-above-an-ape/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When life is so harsh that a man loses all hope in himself, then he raises his eyes to a shining rock, worshipping it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-life-is-so-harsh-that-a-man-loses-all-hope-in-himself-then-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-robot-for-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Laboratory quotes > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [(Japanese Government believes that if you have a big laboratory with all the latest equipment and good funding it will automatically lead to creativity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/japanese-government-believes-that-if-you-have-a-big-laboratory-with/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [We cannot predict the new forces, powers, and discoveries that will be disclosed to us when we reach the other planets and set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/we-cannot-predict-the-new-forces-powers-and-discoveries-that-will-be/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the cloistered walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/if-one-cannot-state-a-matter-clearly-enough-so-that-even-an/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [My mind is my laboratory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/my-mind-is-my-laboratory/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In 1986, I was asked by the then-Dean of Science at the University of British Columbia, Dr. R.C. Miller, Jr., to establish a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-smith/in-1986-i-was-asked-by-the-then-dean-of-science-at-the-university-of/) [Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-smith/) > [Public and private funds have been thrown around like confetti at a country fair, to close up and destroy clinics, hospitals, and scientific research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-fitzgerald/public-and-private-funds-have-been-thrown-around-like-confetti-at-a/) Benedict Fitzgerald > [Is it necessary to practice all these asanas, further and further? Is it necessary to develop scientific researches further and further? To a yogi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/is-it-necessary-to-practice-all-these-asanas-further-and-further-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The possibility of observing the developments of the psychical life of the child as natural phenomena and experimental reactions transforms the school itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-possibility-of-observing-the-developments-of-the-psychical-life/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-gilson/history-is-the-only-laboratory-we-have-in-which-to-test-the/) [Etienne Gilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-gilson/) > [If I had a vision of the perfect psychedelic drug and knew its structure, I'd make it. That's why I have a laboratory out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-shulgin/if-i-had-a-vision-of-the-perfect-psychedelic-drug-and-knew-its/) [Alexander Shulgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-shulgin/) > [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/) > [Fact is Our Lord knew all about the power of money: He gave capitalism a tiny niche in His scheme of things, He gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/fact-is-our-lord-knew-all-about-the-power-of-money-he-gave-capitalism/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [So someday in the near future hopefully rather than having a foot or a leg amputated we'll just give you an injection of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/so-someday-in-the-near-future-hopefully-rather-than-having-a-foot-or/) [Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) [Browse all 471 Laboratory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laboratory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A neat and orderly laboratory is unlikely. 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