Yet, the principle of uncertainty is a bad name. In…
““Yet, the principle of uncertainty is a bad name. In science or outside of it, we are not uncertain. Our knowledge is merely confined within a certain tolerance. We should call it the principle of tolerance. First in the engineering sense. Science has progressed, step by step, the most successful enterprise in the ascent of man, because it has understood that the exchange of information between man and nature, and man and man, can only take place with a certain tolerance. But I also use the word, passionately, about the real world. All knowledge, all information, between human beings, can only be exchanged within a play of tolerance, and that's whether it's in science, or in literature, or in religion, or in politics, or in any form of though that aspires to dogma.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Ascent of Man, 1973
Science and human interaction succeed when we accept limited precision and allow flexibility, rather than claiming absolute certainty.
In simple terms: Accept limited precision and be flexible.
Key Takeaway
Embrace tolerance in knowledge exchange.
Themes
science
communication
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research collaboration
- interpersonal dialogue
- policy negotiation
- artistic critique
- religious discourse
Key Concepts
uncertainty
tolerance
information exchange
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tolerance improve collaboration?
- When might strict standards be necessary?
A Different Perspective
Tolerance may be misused to justify vague standards.